IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM PRESENT THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE D. K. SINGH FRIDAY, THE 14 TH DAY OF FEBRUARY 2025 / 25TH MAGHA, 1946 WP(C) NO. 16350 OF 2024 PETITIONERS:

1 ROSAMMA E. V., AGED 62 YEARS, ANGANWADI WORKER, ANGANWADI CENTER NO.23, THUMPOLY WARD, THUMPOLY, ALAPPUZHA-688 008.

(SEEVATTUTHARA, THUMPOLY, ALAPPUZHA), PIN 688008.

–

2 MERCY KOREYA, AGED 62 YEARS, W/O. SHRI. JOSEPH VARGHEES, ANGANWADI WORKER, ANGANWADI CENTER NO.136, DISTRICT COURT WARD, THATHAMPPALLI, ALAPPUZHA-688 013 CHAKKALAYIL, MULLATHU WARD, THIRUVAMPADY, ALAPPUZHA), PIN 688001.

–

3 SHEELA P. V., AGED 62 YEARS, W/O. SHRI. JOSEPH P. R., ANGANWADI WORKER, ANGANWADI CENTER NO.65, VATTAYAL WARD, ALAPPUZHA-688 002 (PUTHEN PURACKAL, VATTAYAL WARD, ALAPPUZHA), PIN 688002.

–

4 RAMEESA H., AGED 62 YEARS, D/O. LATE. HASSANKUNJU, ANGANWADI WORKER, ANGANWADI CENTER NO.98, THIRUMALA WARD, BHARGAVAN JETTY, ALAPPUZHA-688 011.

(PUTHENCHIRA, THIRUMALA WARD, CHUNGOM, ALAPPUZHA), PIN 688011.

–

5 KERALAKUMARI G., AGED 62 YEARS, W/O. SHRI. SURESHKUMAR L., ANGANWADI WORKER, ANGANWADI CENTER NO.79, T. D. CHIRA, CIVIL STATION WARD, ALAPPUZHA-688 001 (NAGAM PARAMB, OLD THIRUMALA, MULLAKKAL WARD, ALAPPUZHA), PIN 688011.

–

6 RETNAMMA P. R., AGED 62 YEARS, W/O. SHRI. MOHANKUMAR N. T., ANGANWADI WORKER, ANGANWADI CENTER NO.87, KIDANGANPARAMBU WARD, ALAPPUZHA-688 013.

(SIVA KRIPA, AVLOOKUNNU, ALAPPUZHA), PIN 688006.

–

7 MARY G., AGED 62 YEARS, W/O. SHRI P. J. VARGHESE, ANGANWADI WORKER, ANGANWADI CENTER NO.53, LAYENTH WARD, ALAPPUZHA-688 001.

(RAJ BHAVAN, KOMMADY, THUMPOLY, ALAPPUZHA), PIN 688008.

–

8 VISWAMMA R., AGED 62 YEARS, W/O. SHRI. K. N. BAIJU, ANGANWADI WORKER, ANGANWADI CENTER NO.66, RAILWAY STATION WARD, ALAPPUZHA-688 012.

(AKSHAYA BHAVAN, MADATHIL PARAMBIL HOUSE, VALIYAKULAM WARD, ALAPPUZHA), PIN 688012.

–

9 CHELLAMANI J., AGED 62 YEARS, W/O. LATE. SUBRAMANIAN, ANGANWADI HELPER, ANGANWADI CENTER NO.123, STADIUM WARD, ALAPPUZHA - 688 001.

(KOLOTHU PARAMB, CHANDANAKAVU, ALAPPUZHA), PIN 688007.

–

10 CHINNAMMA LAWRENCE, AGED 62 YEARS, W/O. SHRI. LAWRENCE, ANGANWADI HELPER, ANGANWADI CENTER NO.68, THOTTUNKAL, BEACH WARD, ALAPPUZHA-688 002.

(KOLLAPARAMBIL, VADACKAL, THIRUVAMPADY, ALAPPUZHA), PIN 688002.

–

BY ADVS.

B. RAGHUNATHAN M. SALIM DR. STANLY CHAZHOOR R. SRINATH K. JALADHARAN V. M. JACOB RESPONDENTS:

1 UNION OF INDIA*

REPRESENTED BY SECRETARY TO GOVERNMENT OF INDIA, MINISTRY OF WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT, SASTHRI BHAVAN, NEW DELHI-110001 *THE ADDRESS OF R1 IS CORRECTED AS ABOVE INSTEAD OF ‘UNION OF INDIA, HIGH COURT OF KERALA PIN

682031’ AS PER THE ORDER DATED 17.01.2025 IN I.A NO.2/2024.

2 STATE OF KERALA, REPRESENTED BY PRINCIPAL SECRETARY TO GOVERNMENT, SOCIAL JUSTICE DEPARTMENT, GOVERNMENT SECRETARIAT, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, PIN 695001.

–

3 DIRECTOR, WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT, POOJAPPURA, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, PIN 695012.

–

4 CHILD DEVELOPMENT PROJECT OFFICER (URBAN), INTEGRATED CHILD DEVELOPMENT PROJECT OFFICE, MINI CIVIL STATION, ALAPPUZHA, PIN 688013.

–

BY ADV.

BIMAL K. NATH - SR. GP THIS WRIT PETITION (CIVIL) HAVING BEEN FINALLY HEARD ON

14.02.2025, THE COURT ON THE SAME DAY DELIVERED THE FOLLOWING:

D. K. SINGH, J. --------------------------

W.P.(C) No. 16350 of 2024 -------------------------

Dated this the 14^th day of February, 2025

JUDGMENT

1. The petitioners are retired Anganwadi Workers. They have approached this Court in this writ petition to allow them to continue in service until they attain age of 65 years.

2. The petitioners have no right to continue till they attain the age of 65 years in terms of the relevant Rules. The age of retirement of the Anganwadi Workers is 62 years. What should be the age of retirement is a policy decision and this Court cannot extend the age of retirement in exercise of its jurisdiction under Article 226 of the Constitution of India. Therefore, the prayer of the petitioners to allow them to continue up to 65 years has no basis and substance and, therefore, the writ petition to that extent is dismissed.

3. In the Judgment passed by this Court long