The Allahabad High Court has clarified that for the post of Anganbadi Karyakatri, a candidate's Graduation or Post-Graduation degree is not a mandatory criterion. The Court emphasized that the merit list must be prepared based on the minimum qualification, which is High School and Intermediate, and not on additional academic achievements like Graduation or Post-Graduation.
A petition was filed by Smt. Chandani Pandey, whose application for the post of Anganbadi Karyakatri was rejected as she failed to upload her Post-Graduation degree due to a technical glitch. She sought the Court’s intervention for consideration of her candidature.
Upon reviewing Clause 7 of the Government Order dated 21.03.2023, the Court noted that the merit list for Anganbadi Karyakatri and Anganbadi Sahayika positions must be based on the minimum qualification or equivalent qualification and may include the maximum academic qualification of Post-Graduation. However, it found that there was no provision in the order that made Graduation or Post-Graduation a preferential qualification or allocated additional marks for it.
Justice Ajit Kumar, while delivering the judgment, stated:
"When a minimum qualification is prescribed under the Government Order as Intermediate for the post of Anganbadi Karyakatri, and there is no provision providing for preferential qualification as Graduation or Post-Graduation, nor any additional marks allotted for it, such higher qualifications cannot be considered as preferential."
The Court directed that the respondents must not compel the petitioner to submit a Post-Graduation certificate or reject her candidature on this basis. Furthermore, she cannot be placed below another candidate who submitted a Post-Graduation degree if her merit, based on High School and Intermediate marks, is higher.
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"The provision of preparation of a merit list based on Post-Graduate degree is held to be directory only. Respondents are directed to prepare the merit list strictly in accordance with the minimum qualification as prescribed and allot the marks based on High School and Intermediate qualification pursuant to the advertisement issued and not on the basis of Graduation or Post-Graduation as there is no preferential qualification prescribed under the relevant Government Order."
The Court disposed of the petition with these observations and directed the authorities to adhere strictly to the prescribed minimum qualification criteria.
Order Date: 19.03.2025
Court: High Court of Judicature at Allahabad
Case Title: Smt Chandani Pandey v. State Of Up And 2 Others [WRIT - A No. - 3371 of 2025]
