Tripura High Court
Smt. Ruati Reang vs The State Of Tripura on 10 September, 2025
Page 1 of 4
HIGH COURT OF TRIPURA
AGARTALA
WP(C) No. 518 of 2025
Smt. Ruati Reang,
W/o: Shri Aichu Rai Reang,
R/o: Kancharichhara, Dist-North Tripura,
Aged-50 years.
......Petitioner(s)
VERSUS
1. The State of Tripura,
To be represented by the Secretary,
Social Welfare and Social Education,
Govt. of Tripura, New Secretariat Building,
New Capital complex, Kunjaban, P.S: New Capital Complex,
Agartala, West Tripura, Pin:7990101.
2. The Secretary,
Department of Social Welfare and Social Education,
Govt. of Tripura, New Secretariat Building, New Capital complex,
Kunjaban, P.S: New Capital Complex, Agartala, West Tripura,
Pin:799010.
3. The Secretary,
Department of Finance, Govt. of Tripura, New Secretaiat Building,
New Capital Complex, Kunjaban, P.S: New Capital Complex,
Agartala, West Tripura, Pin:799010.
4. The Director,
Social Welfare and Social Education, Malancha, Ujan Abhoynagar,
Agartala, West Tripura.
5. Child Development Project Officer,
Damcherra ICDS Project, North Truipura.
6. The Union of India,
To be represented by the Secretary, Ministry of Women and Child
Development, Govt. of India, Shastriya Bhawan, New Delhi.
.... Respondent(s).
For Petitioner (s) : Mr. J Murasing, Adv.
For Respondent(s) : Mr. B Majumder, Dy. SGI.
Mr. M Debbarma, Addl. GA.
Whether fit for reporting : No.
Page 2 of 4
HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE S. DATTA PURKAYASTHA
JUDGMENT & ORDER (ORAL)
10.09.2025
Heard learned counsel Mr. J Murasing, appearing for the
petitioner as well as Mr. M Debbarma, learned Addl. GA appearing
for the respondents No.1-5 and Mr. B Majumder, learned Dy. SGI
appearing for the respondent No.6.
2. As agreed by all the learned counsel, the case is being
disposed at the motion stage.
3. The petitioner was engaged as an Anganwadi Helper at
Khakchang Para Anganwadi Centre, vide engagement letter dated
29.12.2007 (Annexure-1) issued by CDPO, Damcherra ICDS
Project, Damcherra and according to the petitioner, she was
discharging her duties un-interruptedly to the satisfaction of the
authority, thereafter.
4. However, on 28.12.2022 a memorandum (Annexure-2)
was issued by CDPO of Damcherra ICDS Project mentioning that
five numbers of Anganwadi Centers at Khakchang Para, i.e.
Kakchang Para Nos.1-5 were shifted to Kahamthai Para Bru Camp
without the consent of the CDPO and thereby all such centers at
Khakchang Para were locked with all equipments and utensils of
those Centers and all Bru peoples were also shifted to Khakchang
Para Bru Camp to Kahamthai Para Bru Camp in the last week of
November, 2022. In that context, CDPO, Damcherra ICDS Project
submitted a report to the Director of Social Welfare & Social
Education Department, Government of Tripura for taking decision
in this regard and meanwhile, honorarium of five numbers of
Anganwadi Workers and Anganwadi Helpers in those Anganwadi
Centers were held up with effect from the month of December,
2022 until further orders.
5. Out of total ten numbers of Anganwadi Workers and
Anganwadi Helpers of said five numbers of Anganwadi Centers,
five numbers of Anganwadi Workers and four numbers of
Anganwadi helpers earlier filed the WP(C) No.550/2024 which was
disposed of by this court on 24.07.2025, inter alia, with the
following observations and directions:
" 6. On consideration of the submissions of both sides
and also on perusal of the documents submitted by the
parties, it appears from the memorandum dated
28.12.2022 that while Anganwadi Centers were shifted
from Khakchang Para Bru camp to Khahamthai Para
Bru camp without the consent of the CDPO, Damcherra
ICDS Project, he sent a report to the respondent No.4
for taking necessary decision in this regard but
nothing is produced from the side of the respondents
that the respondent No.4 has taken any decision on
the said report of CDPO [the respondent No.5 herein]
and for unnecessarily causing delay in decision making
process, the honorarium of the petitioners have been
withheld in this way for indefinite period without any
valid reason. Though it is a fact that the petitioners did
not discharge their duties during the period from
December, 2022 till date but no blame can be attached
on them for that purpose as they were prevented from
discharging their duties. It is also true that without
discharging their duties, they cannot claim their full
honorarium. Taking note of the above facts, it appears
that the submission of Mr. Roy Barman, learned senior
counsel, is more acceptable. When the petitioners
could not discharge their duties during that period
being prevented by the respondents, the entire
amount of the honorarium cannot be withheld by the
respondents.
7. Considering all these aspects and based on the
discussions made above, the writ petition is partly
allowed. The respondent No.4 is directed to take a
conscious decision within 15 [fifteen] days of receipt
of the copy of this judgment and order, on the report
submitted by the respondent No.5 to him/her and
simultaneously, the respondent Nos. 4 & 5 are also
directed to release 50% of the monthly honorarium to
all the petitioners computing from December, 2022 till
the period their such honorarium is kept withheld in
this manner. Payment of such honorarium computed
up to July, 2025 should be made within 4 [four] weeks
from the date of receipt of copy of this order.
The writ petition is accordingly disposed of.
Interim application(s), if any, also stands disposed of."
6. The left out one Anganwadi Helper has now filed the
instant writ petition.
7. The learned counsel of both side submit that the
present writ petition is covered by the above said decision of this
court, subject to any challenge made by any party before the
higher forum in this regard.
8. Considered the submissions.
9. The present writ petition is disposed of in the similar
line that the respondent No.4 shall take a conscious decision in
terms of above said judgment dated 24.07.2025, on the report
submitted by respondent No.5 to him/her and simultaneously the
respondent Nos. 4 & 5 shall also release 50% of the monthly
honorarium to the present petitioner computing December, 2022
till the period such honorarium is kept withheld in this manner.
Payment of such honorarium computed up to July, 2025 shall be
made within 4(four) weeks from the date of receipt of a copy of
this order.
The petition is accordingly disposed of.
JUDGE
SATABDI DUTTA Digitally signed by SATABDI DUTTA
Date: 2025.09.12 16:26:28 +05'30'
Satabdi
