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2011 Supreme(Cal) 681
High Court Of Calcutta
Patherya, J.
Krishna Rana - Appellant
Versus
State Of West Bengal - Respondent
W. P. NO. 3244 (W) OF 2011
Decided On : May 18,2011
Saurav Banerji, Sariful Islam Mallick, Chameli Majumdar, Swarup Pal, Jayanti Dhar Quader, Madhumita Dutta
The residence criteria in the State notification dated 5th September, 2006 was not ultra-vires the Constitution of India.
Headnote:
CONSTITUTIONAL LAW - ARTICLE 14, 15 AND 16 - RESIDENCE CRITERIA FOR APPOINTMENT OF AUXILIARY NURSE-CUM-MIDWIFE - VALIDITY - WHETHER ULTRA-VIRES THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA - HELD, NO.
Fact of the Case:
The petitioner challenged the residence criteria in the advertisement for appointment of Auxiliary Nurse-cum-Midwife (ANM) as ultra-vires the Constitution of India. The petitioner contended that the criteria violated Articles 14, 15, and 16 of the Constitution and that the State notification incorporating the criteria was de-hors an enactment and, therefore, violative of the Constitution.
Finding of the Court:
The court held that the residence criteria in the State notification dated 5th September, 2006 was not ultra-vires the Constitution of India. The court found that the Scheme under which the ANMs were to be appointed was not a piece of legislation and that there existed a reasonable nexus between the object and the classification.
Issues: 1. Whether the residence criteria in the State notification dated 5th September, 2006 was ultra-vires the Constitution of India? 2. Whether the Scheme under which the ANMs were to be appointed was a piece of legislation?
Ratio Decidendi: 1. The court held that the residence criteria in the State notification dated 5th September, 2006 was not ultra-vires the Constitution of India. The court found that the Scheme under which the ANMs were to be appointed was not a piece of legislation and that there existed a reasonable nexus between the object and the classification. 2. The court held that the Scheme under which the ANMs were to be appointed was not a piece of legislation. The court found that the Scheme was not in exercise of powers under Article 77 of the Constitution of India and that ANMs did not discharge any function of the State nor under a statute.
Final Decision: The court dismissed the writ petition.
PATHERYA, J.
1. THE petitioner seeks to challenge the residence criteria in the advertisement dated 6th August, 2008 for appointment of Auxiliary Nurse-cum- Midwife as ultra-vires the Constitution of India.
2. THE case of the petitioner is that one of the criteria for appointment of Auxiliary Nurse cum Midwife (ANM) is that the applicant has to be local resident of the Health Sub-Center. The said criteria is hit by Articles 14, 15 and 16 of the Constitution of India. Article 16(3) of the Constitution of India postulates enactment of legislation and no restriction can be imposed by a mere notification. The notification dated 5th September, 2006 has been issued by the State and incorporates the criteria of local resident. This cannot be found in the National Rural Health Mission Scheme, (Scheme) which has been introduced by the Central Government. As the State notification is de-hors an enactment, the same is violative of the Constitution of India and liable to be set aside. Reliance is placed on AIR 2002 SC 2897, AIR 1970 SC 422, 2002 (6) SCC 562. Section 16(1) of the Constitution of India has granted equality for "employment" and "appointment" to any office under the State. The term "employment" is applicable in the case of ANM and its meaning has been enlarged in AIR 1961 SC 564. Reliance is also placed on 2008 10 SCC 687. The unreported judgment in WP 4689(W) of 2009 will not apply on the principle of Sub-silentio as held in 1991 4 SCC 139 and 2000 5 SCC 488. In view of 2007 10 SCC 82, no precedential value can be given to the unreported judgment wherein the issue has not been decided. For all the said reasons, therefore, and in view of the decision cited, the local resident criteria in the State notification dated 5th September, 2006 be held ultra-vires the Constitution of India.
Counsel for the Advocate General, submits that the Scheme, is of the Central Government, which aims to reach out to the rural people. The State is the implementing agency and the scheme postulates that ANMs should be within the reach of the rural people of the local area. The scheme is not a piece of legislation and there exists no reasonable nexus between the object and the classification. Reliance is placed on 2007(11) SCC 681. For the said reasons, this writ petition warrants no interference and no order be passed thereon. Having considered the submission of the parties the Central Government in 2005 introduced the Scheme aimed at reducing neo-natal mortality. For such purposes two ANMs were to be appointed in the villages where health Sub- Centers would be set-up. Apart from fulfilling other criteria the Scheme of the Central Government emphasized on the ANM being a resident of a village falling under the jurisdiction of the sub-center. The said scheme was extended to the states who were the implementing agency. The State of West Bengal has also taken steps to implement the Scheme and in doing so, issued Notifications wherein the eligibility criteria of ANM was specified. As the Central Government emphasized on the local resident criteria, the same was included as an eligibility criteria by the State Government too. This eligibility criteria of local residence is sought to be challenged on the touch stone of Articles 14,15 and 16 of the Constitution of India.
3. THE post of ANM is created under a scheme, which is not in exercise of powers under Article 77 of the Constitution of India. ANMs do not discharge any function of the State nor under a statute. Recruitment Rules applicable to employees of a State are not applicable to their case. Therefore the provisions of Articles 14 and 16 of the Constitution of India as held in 2007 11 SCC 681 will not be applicable.
4. THE State as the implementing agency enters into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare Department of the Central Government. By Clause 11.3 of the MOU the State Government is to agree to abide by all the existing guidelines, instru
