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The Hindu

Karnataka High Court finds no fault in government's policy of not providing roster-based reservation for honorary posts of anganwadi workers

The High Court of Karnataka said that the policy of the State government in not providing roster-based reservation for the posts of anganwadi workers is not contrary to constitutional provisions as these posts are not civil but only honorary. '...the post of the anganwadi worker is honorary and persons selected to these posts will be paid a honorarium and they are not entitled to a salary... hence it is not required for the State government to follow the reservation roster,' the court observed. Justice M.I. Arun passed the order while dismissing a petition filed by 28-year-old Vijayalakshmi of Vijayapura district. The petitioner, who belongs to the Scheduled Tribe community and an aspirant to the post of anganwadi worker, had questioned the government's action of not providing caste-based reservation while appointing persons as anganwadi workers. However, the government said that it is appointing persons from Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes as anganwadi workers if the population of these communities in the area of the anganwadi centre is more than 40%. The population of the ST community in the area of the centre to which the petitioner is seeking appointment is very low, and hence the government has not provided posts for persons from this community, the court said, while pointing out that the petitioner, who may not be meritorious to secure honorary posts, had raised the issue of reservation. The government also pointed out to the court that anganwadi workers are required to inspire confidence of all the villagers and care for all the children irrespective of the community, and a person is chosen to these posts taking all these factors into consideration. 'Courts should be reluctant to interfere with the legislation or policy on reservation of the State unless it is shown that they are ultra vires the provision of the Constitution,' the court said, while pointing out that the government's policy on not providing roster-based reservation for the post of anganwadi workers is not contrary to the Constitution.