In Brief
An Anganwadi Sahayika (female auxiliary worker in a child development scheme) was terminated from her position without being given an opportunity to be heard. A senior official instructed her immediate removal after finding her absent during a surprise inspection, and the same-day termination order violated principles of natural justice and statutory guidelines. The court held that discretion to terminate must be exercised independently by the competent authority and cannot be dictated by a superior; appeal before the collector was ineffective as a remedy since the commissioner who initiated the removal was the appellate authority. The petition was allowed and the worker was ordered to be reinstated in her position.
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