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2026 Supreme(Online)(CAT) 8835
CENTRAL ADMINISTRATIVE TRIBUNAL, JAMMU BENCH, JAMMU
Sanjeev Gupta, Judicial Member, Pragya Sahay Saksena, Administrative Member
Santosh Kumari – Appellant
Versus
Social Welfare – Respondent
Original Application No. 61/696/2026
For the Appellants/Petitioners: Avinay Sharma
For the Respondents: Hunar Gupta
The court directed the administrative authority to treat the original application as a representation and pass a reasoned and speaking order regarding the seniority list of Graduate Anganwari Workers, considering initial engagement orders and relevant judicial precedents.
Headnote:The applicants challenged a circular dated 20.04.2026 and the tentative seniority list of Graduate Anganwari Workers as of 01.01.2026, contending that certain private respondents were incorrectly placed above them. The applicants sought a direction to the respondents to reconsider their seniority based on initial engagement orders and relevant judicial precedents. The court determined that the matter could be resolved by directing the administrative authority to consider the grievances through a formal representation. The primary issue was whether the respondents should be directed to reconsider the seniority list in light of the applicants' initial engagement and prior court rulings. The court reasoned that keeping the application pending would serve no useful purpose and that the most efficient remedy was to direct the respondents to pass a reasoned and speaking order after considering the applicants' representations. Accordingly, this O.A. is disposed of, at the admission stage itself, without entering into the merits of the case, with a direction to respondents to treat a copy of this O.A. as representation of the applicants keeping in view the initial engagement order of the applicants as well as judgement of Hon’ble High Court in SWP No. 667 of 2018 dated 14.02.2023 and decide the same by passing a reasoned and speaking order.
| Table of Content |
|---|
| 1. permission granted to join multiple applications for consolidated pursuit. (Para 1 , 2) |
| 2. challenge to administrative seniority lists based on initial engagement and judicial precedents. (Para 3 , 4 , 5) |
| 3. direction to administrative authorities to resolve grievances via a reasoned and speaking order. (Para 6) |
Hearing through video conferencing
O R D E R
(Per:- Pragya Sahay Saksena, Administrative Member)
Miscellaneous Application No. 739 of 2026
The instant M.A. has been filed by the applicants seeking permission of this Tribunal to join in and pursue O.A. No. 696 of 2026 together.
For the reasons stated therein, the M.A. is allowed.
Original Application
Mr. Avinay Sharma, learned counsel for the applicants submitted that applicants are aggrieved of the impugned circular dated 20.04.2026 issued by the respondents and inaction of the respondents in not considering the objections filed by the applicants against the tentative seniority list of Graduate AWWs as on 01.01.2026, in which the respondents have shown the name of private respondents No. 4 to 7 above the applicants.
2. Learned counsel for the applicants further submitted that the applicants would be satisfied, at this stage, if a direction is issued to respondents to treat a copy of this O.A. as representation of the applicant keeping in view the initial engagement order of the applicants as well as judgement of Hon’ble High Court in SWP No. 667 of 2018 dated 14.02.2023 and take a decision, within a time frame.
3. Mr. Hunar Gupta, learned D.A.G. appearing on advance notice prays for sometime to file counter reply.
4. Having heard the learned counsels for the parties, we are of the considered view that no useful purpose would be served in keeping this O.A. pending and same can be disposed of with directions to respondents.
5. Accordingly, this O.A. is disposed of, at the admission stage itself, without entering into the merits of the case, with a direction to respondents to treat a copy of this O.A. as representation of the applicants keeping in view the initial engagement order of the applicants as well as judgement of Hon’ble High Court in SWP No. 667 of 2018 dated 14.02.2023 and decide the same by passing a reasoned and speaking order. A copy of the speaking order shall also be communicated to the applicant. Let the entire exercise be completed within a period of four weeks from the date of receipt of a certified copy of this order.
6. There shall be no orders so as to costs.
