IN THE HIGH COURT FOR THE STATE OF TELANGANA AT HYDERABAD THE HON'BLE SRI JUSTICE E.V.VENUGOPAL WRIT PETITION No.4490 of 2026 DATED : 16-02-2026 Between :

Thadaka Rajeshwari and others.

… Petitioners.

And The State of Telangana, Represented by its Principal Secretary, Education Department, Secretariat, Hyderabad, Telangana State and others.

… Respondents.

ORDER :

The present writ petition is filed by the petitioners under Article

226 of the Constitution of India, seeking the following relief :

“…to declare the act of respondent No.3 to 7 in terminating the services of petitioners orally on 03.01.2026 working under the Mid Day meals scheme at Telangana Model School, Lachapet Village, Dubbaka Mandal, Siddipet district and not considering the representations dated 06.01.2026, 07.01.2026, 20.01.2026 and 24.01.2026 addressed by the petitioners is illegal, arbitrary, and against the principles of natural justice, equally against the directions issued by this Hon'ble court in W.P.No. 9800 of 2013 dated 30.12.2014 and G.O.Ms.No.94 dated 25.11.2002.…”

2. Heard Sri M.Vijay Kumar Goud, learned counsel for the petitioners and Mrs.Sunitha, learned Assistant Government Pleader appearing on behalf of Government Pleader for School Education Sri S.Satyanarayana Rao. None appeared for Government Pleader for Revenue.

3. The case of the petitioners, in brief, is that they were working under the Mid-Day Meals Scheme at Telangana Model School, Lachapet Village, Dubbaka Mandal, Siddipet District, when respondent Nos.3 to 7 orally terminated their services on 03.01.2026 without issuing any written order or affording them an opportunity of hearing. Aggrieved by the said action, the petitioners submitted representations dated 06.01.2026, 07.01.2026, 20.01.2026 and 24.01.2026 seeking reconsideration. However, the authorities failed to consider the same. The petitioners contend that the impugned oral termination is illegal, arbitrary, violative of the principles of natural justice and contrary to the directions issued by this Court in W.P.No.9800 of 2013 dated 30.12.2014, as well as G.O.Ms.No.94 dated 25.11.2002 and is therefore liable to be declared unlawful.

4. The learned counsel for the petitioners submits that the action of respondent Nos.3 to 7 in orally terminating the services of the petitioners on 03.01.2026 is wholly illegal, arbitrary and unsustainable in law. The impugned termination was effected without issuing any written order, without assigning reasons and without affording the petitioners an opportunity of hearing, thereby violating the fundamental principles of natural justice, particularly audi alteram partem. Such an oral termination, having civil consequences, is per se void and liable to be set aside. It is further contended that the respondents’ action is arbitrary and violative of Articles 14 and 21 of the Constitution of India, as the petitioners have been deprived of their livelihood in an unreasonable and unfair manner. The petitioners were discharging their duties under the Mid-Day Meals Scheme at Telangana Model School, Lachapet Village and their services could not have been dispensed with except in accordance with the procedure established by law and the governing guidelines.

(a) The petitioners further submit that the impugned action is contrary to the directions issued by this Court in W.P.No.9800 of 2013 dated 30.12.2014, wherein it was held that termination of services under the scheme cannot be made arbitrarily and without following due process. Due to the said action of the respondents, the petitioners’ livelihood has been drastically affected, as they work for a very meager amount. The respondents have acted in clear disregard of the binding judicial directions. It is also contended that the termination is in violation of G.O.Ms.No.94 dated 25.11.2002, which governs the conditions and procedure relating to engagement and discontinuation under the scheme. The said Government Order mandates adherence to procedural safeguards bef