Judgment :-

Altamas Kabir, J.

1. Leave granted.

2. Respondent Nos. 1,2 and 3 herein claim to have been appointed in the Integrated Child Development Scheme Project (hereinafter referred to as `ICDS). The said Scheme was introduced by the Government of India through the Department of Human Resources Development for integrated delivery of certain services to pre-school children, pregnant and lactating women. The object of the Scheme was to improve the health and nutritional status of children and women and to reduce the incidences of school drop-outs and physical and social welfare and development of the child.

3. According to the writ petitioners, voluntary organizations and local bodies were given priority to act as Implementing Agencies of the Scheme. However, in some States, such as West Bengal, no voluntary organizations or local bodies were recommended and the State Government itself was appointed as the Implementing Agency to run and/or implement the Scheme within the territories of West Bengal.

4. It was also the case of the writ petitioners that the Scheme provided that all actions and decisions had to be taken by the State Government, with the approval of the Central Governm