IN THE HIGH COURT OF HIMACHAL PRADESH, SHIMLA CWP No. 790 of 2007 Decided on: 04.03.2010 Smt. Sarla Devi …. Petitioner Versus State of H.P. & Ors. …. Respondents Coram : The Hon’ble Mr. Justice Kurian Joseph, Chief Justice The Hon’ble Mr. Justice V.K. Ahuja, Judge For the petitioner: Mr. Vinod Gupta, Advocate. For the respondents: Mr. R.K. Sharma, Senior Additional Advocate General, for respondent No. 1 to 3. Justice Kurian Joseph, C.J.(Oral): Petitioner is the beneficiary of selection conducted for the post of Anganwari Worker at Anganwari Centre, Kakrol. It is found that the selection process was irregular. The guidelines prescribe for 30 marks in interview, (10 marks for educational qualification and 20 marks for experience.) It appears that in the selection process under reference, the Selection Committee awarded 10 marks for written test and the marks obtained in the written test were added to the interview marks. That procedure may be ideal but that is not permitted or contemplated under the guidelines. Once a selection process is duly prescribed, the Selection Committee has to go by that process, unless and until sufficient leverage is left to the Committee to adopt its own course. Apparently, the Selection Committee has traversed outside the 2 prescribed selection procedure and has adopted its own method of selection which is impermissible under the guidelines. Therefore, the action taken by the competent authority to set aside the procedure for selection based on a defective procedure, is perfectly in order. We are informed that the post at Anganwari Centre, Kakrol, is still lying vacant. We, therefore, direct the competent authority to take steps immediately for filling up the post. We make it clear that all those applicants who applied for the selection in the year 2005, shall also be permitted to participate in the process, if they choose to do so and if they are otherwise eligible in terms of income and residence. In view of the above, the writ petition stands disposed of and so also the pending application(s), if any. (Justice Kurian Joseph), Chief Justice ( V.K. Ahuja ), March 04, 2010 Judge (BSS/Tilak) 3