Kummari Rajani v. The State of Telangana

Court: High Court for State of Telangana

Bench: E.V. VENUGOPAL

Judgment date: 2026-02-12

Case summary

High Court for State of Telangana judgment dated 2026-02-12. Kummari Rajani v. The State of Telangana. Read the judgment and case details on LawSphereX.

Judgment text

I [ 32ee I IN THE HIGH COURT FOR THE STATE OF TELANGANA AT HYDERABAD (Special Original Jurisdiction) THURSDAY, THE TWELFTH DAY OF FEBRUARY TWO THOUSAND AND TWENTY SIX PRESENT THE HONOURABLE SRI JUSTICE E. V. VENUGOPAL Between: 1. K. ummari wo. Kummari Raju, Aged about 42years, fl-ajani, occ cook-cum- Mid day. Mqrl H No. i 1-d-70, pratapndgar,'christian {gl9y, Ei9. cotony, Warangal Urban District, Telanoana State - 506013. ' 2. Ankam tvlallikaamba, Wo. Ankam Sambaiah, Aged about 52 years, occ Cook-t! ,t"glagency, Rio. H. No 1z-9-61, . cum-Mid. {qv Ashok street, Kareemabad, Warangal District, Telangana _ State - 506002. 3. - Chintha Yellamma, wo. Late chintha tvlallaiah, Aged about 54 years, occ cook-cum-tMid. day Meal Rio. ? geqcy, !. No. 1! -i1:266, ' Narendra Nagar, Kashibugga, Warangal District, Teiangana State . -506002. 4. Anna Umadevi, wo. Anna sudharshanam, Aged about 55 years, occ cook- H. No. 1T-7-202, Uiusuprathap . cum-Mid. {ay.

{lgalagency, N'agar,'Karimabad, District, Telangana _ lVarangal -Mohammad_ State -506002. 5. Raziyl sulthana, wo. Mahbood, Aged about 59 years, occ cook-cum-Mid day fr/eal_qgglgy, R/o. H. No. 16-T1-513, chintal, waiangat District, Telangana State -500002- 6. Begum, wo. Mohammed Abdul Jareer pasha, years, lakiy| Aged about 34 occ cook-cur. n-lul1d Meal agency, R/o. H. No. 16-1T-513, Abbanitunta, . day Warangal District, Telangana State - 506002. 7. Munigala MoJnika @. G-annarapu [\Iounika, D/o. Munigala vijay, Aged about years, o. cc cook-cum-Mid day meal agency, 13 Rio. 'r[. No]ts-z-2s1, Rangampet, Warangal District, Telanjana _ State: SOObOZ 8. wo. IMohammed Rashid, Aged about years, occ \ajmunnisa- -pggqrm, 6g cook-cum-Mid day. meal agency,_V9, H. No. lg-ll-'tza, shainbhr. inipet, Warangal District, Telangana State-- 506005. ... PETIT|ONERS AND 1. The state of relangala, R. ep. , by its Principal secretary, Education Secretariat, Hyderabad, Telangana State. ' _ Q. epqrtment, 2.

The Director of School Education, Hyderabad, Telangana state. 3. The District Collector, Warangaldistiict, Telangana slate 4. The District Education Officer, Warangal distridt, Telangana state -506001. 5. The Mandal Ertqc-ation officer, warangal Urban Manda-|, warangal district, Telangana- 506001. 6. The Mandal Education Officer, Khila Warangal Mandal, Warangal district, Telangana - 506002. 7. The Tahasildar_(M. R. o), warangal urban Mandal, warangar district, 8. The Tahasildar_(MR. o), Khila warangal Mandal, warangardistrict, Telangana -506002. 9. Akshaya Patra Foundation, Rep. by its managing Director Hyderabad Regional office, O/o. Plot 2, Kesari Nilayam, Krishna Nagar Colony, Picket, Secunclerabad, Telangana - 50001 5. ...

RESPONDENTS Petitiorr under Article 226 ol lhe Constitution of lndia praying that in the circumstancer; stated in the affidavit filed therewith, the High Court may be pleased to issue appropriate order or orders more particularly one in the nature of Writ of l/anrlamus declaring the act of Respondent No. 3 in issuing the proceedings vide Rc. No. 111120412025 dated 0110812025 in permitting the Respondent Nlo. 9 to supply the Mid day meals to the children's studying in the Warangal Urb,an Mandal and Khila Warangal Mandal schools in Warangal district more fully in h. hila Warangal and Urban Warangal Mandals at Govt. High School, at green Market, G. H. S, at Urusu Gattu, G. H. S. Narendranagar, Primary School Shambhunipet, Govt. High School Urdu Medium at Chintal, Primary School Urdu Medium at Chintal, G. H. S.

at Lakshmipuram schools respectively without any authority and without issuing notice to the Petitioners is illegal, arbitrary and against the guidelines issued by the government in G. O. Rt. No. 63 dated 08/05/2019, G O. Ms. No. 94 dated 25. 11. 2002 and the directions issued by this Hon'ble Court in W. P. No. 9800 of 2013 order dated 30112t2014 equally in W. p. No. 8643 of 2025 daled 2110312O25. lA NO: 1 OF 2026 Petition under Section 151 CPC praying that in the circumstances stated in the affidavit filed in support of the petition, the High Court may be pleased to suspend the operation of the proceedings issued by Respondent No. 3 vide Rc. No. 1111204120:15 dated 01. 08. 2025 by permitting the Respondent No. 9 to serve the Mid day mr:als by continuing the Petitioners to the Mid day meals in Khilla Warangal and Urban Warngal Mandals at Govt. High School, at green Market, G. H. S, at Urus,r Gattu, G. H. S. Narendranagar, Primary School Shambhunipet, Govt.

High Sclrool Urdu Medium at Chintal, Primary School Urdu Medium at Chintal, G. H. S. ,at Lakshmipuram respectively. ::,,: / Counsel for the Petitioners: SRI M. VIJAYA KUMAR GOUD Counsel for the Respondent Nos. 1 TO 6: GP FOR EDUCATION { g Respondent Nos. 7 & 8: GP FOR REVENUE fr Counsel for the r Counsel for the Respondent No. 9: - The Court made the following: ORDER ei IN THE HIGH COURT FOR THE STATE OF TELANGANA AT HYDERABAD THE HON'BLE SRI JUSTICE E. V. VENUGOPAL WRIT PETITION No. 44O4 of 2O26 DATE OF ORDERz 12. O2. 2o. 26 Between: Kummari Rajani and others Petitioners AND The State of Telangana, rep. by its Principal Secretdry, Education Department, Secretariat, Hyderabad and others ... Respondents ORDER This, Writ Petition under Article 226 of the Constitutron of India, is filed seeking the following relief: ".. -to issue appropriate order or orders more partic:ilarly one iru tLLe nature of Writ of Mandamus declafing *rc act of Respondent No.

3 in issuing tt-Le proceetdirugs uide Rc. iVo. 11/ 1204/2025, dated 01/Ott/2025 in permitting tle Respondent No. 9 to supplg tLE Mid doA meals to the childrens studging in the Wararryal [Jrban Mandal and Khila Warangal Mandal schools iru Warangal distict more fuUA in Khila Warangal arud Urban Warangal Mandals at Gout. High School, at green Market, G. H. S, at Urusu Gattu, G. H. S. Narendranaga4 Primary School Shambhunipet, Gout. High School Urdu Medium at Chintal, Primary School tlrdu Medium at Chintal, G. I-LS. at Lakshmipuram schools respectiuely uithout ang authority and without issuing notice to the Petitioners is illegal, arbitrary and against the guidelines issued by the gouernment in G. O. Rt. No. 63 dated 0B/05/2019, G. O. Ms. No. 94, dated 25. 11. 2002 and the directions issued by this Honble Court in W. P. No. 98O0 of 2013 order dated 30/ 12/2014 equally in W. P. No. 8643 of 2025 dated 21/ 03/ 2025... " 2. Heard Sri M.

Vijaya Kumar Goud, learned counsel appearing for the petitioners and learned Assistant Government Pleader for School Education and perused the record. 3. Learned counsel appearing for the petitioners would submit that petitioner Nos. l to 8 have been working as Cook-cum-Helpers in various schools across Warangal Rural and Khila Warangal Mandals under the Mid Day Meal Scheme for 23 years, serving freshly cooked meals without complaints. Initialty paid Rs. 1,O0O/- per month, their honorarium was increased to Rs. 3,OOO /- from O3-O2. 2O23. , Page 3 of6 They per:form duties exceeding 8 hours daily and, through their union, filed W. P. No. 32153 of 2024 seeking proper time-scale pay. The court directed payment of Rs. 17,000/- per month oo 24. O2. 2O25, but appeals and review petitions are pending. Despite this, respondents issued Rc. No. ll/L2O412025, dated 01. 08. 2025 to terminate their services ;and replace them with a centralized kitchen agency (respondt:nt No.

9) without notice, seemingly to avoid paying the court-ordered wages. Respondent No. 3 had no authority under G. O. Ms. No. 63, dated 08. 05. 2019 to make such appointments. Similar illegal attempts in other districts were previousl'r stayed by courts. 4. Petitioners continue to cook meals on-site, following all G. O. Ms. No. 94, dated 25. 1L. 2OO2 guidelines and maintaining quality, whereas the centraJized supply serves food prepared hours eeLrlier. Their representations dated 23. oL. 2026 remain unaddressed. tn light of these violations of law and natural justice, petitioners seek intervention from this court under Article 226 of the Constitution of India. Page 4 of6 5. Learned Assistant Government Pleader appearing for the School Education submitted that the impugned proceeding is issued only with an intention to maintain uniform quality, finely procurement and supply of Eggs under Mid-Day MeaI Scheme in furtherance of guidelines issued by the Government in G. O. Ms. No.

94, dated 25. LL. 2OO2. He further submitted that the impugned proceeding is issued in consonance with the guidelines issued by the Government in implementation of the Mid-Day Meal Scheme. Since, there is no illegality or irregularities committed by respondent No. 3 in issuing the impugned proceeding, he prayed to dismiss the Writ Petition. 6. Admittedly, the Government issued G. O. Ms. No. 94, dated 25. LI. 2OO2, for implementation of Mid-Day Meal (Cooked) Programme for the children of Classes V- VII in all the Government and Aided Primary and Upper Primary Schools in the State and petitioners were appointed as Cooks-cum-Mid-Day Meal Agency. The said Agency works strictly under the control and supervision of the Committees Page 5 of6 being constituted in terms of the said G. O. As per Condition No. 12 rrf G. O. Ms. No. 94, 25. 1I.

2OO2, the Department of School Education shall organize inspection of food being suppliecl through Officials of Food and Nutrition Board I I (Governrnent of India), Home Science College wherever they are existing, Municipal Health Officers, food inspectors of Civil Sulrplies department or any other specialized agency in the field of Food and Nutrition. 7. Sir:ce the G. O. Ms. No. 94, dated 25. I1. 2OO2 has been taking cirre to supply good quality and quantity of Mid-Day Meal to the eligible students, the impugned proceeding, dated O 1. 08. 2025, issued by respondent No. 3 is not in consonance with the said G. O Ms. No. 94, dated 25. 1L. 2OO2. 8. In rrievi, of the sarne, this Writ Petition is allowed and the impugned proceeding uide Rc. No. 11ll2O4l2025, dated 01. 08. 20125, issued by respondent No. 3 is set aside and the responde:ets are directed to strictly implement the guidelines issued L,y the Government uide G. O. Ms. No. 94, dated 25. 11. 2OO2.

There shall be no order as to costs. petitiOns, if any, pending' miscellaneous As a sequer, closed' shall stand SD/-P. PONNA KRISHNA REGISTRAR //TRUE COPY// I OFFICER I To Department, Hyderabad, 1. The Principal Secretary, Education 2 3. 4 5. Telangana- 506001. Warangal Mandal, Warangal district' 6. ffre nf'jnOaf fOucaiion Officer, Khila Telangana - 506002. district, 7. The TahasilOar (M. R. O), Warangal urban Mandal, Warangal Telangana-506001 , ,,A, g. ft,e iZr,asirOaiiM. n. O), Khila Warangal Mandal, Warangal district, Telangana -506002. 9. oil iC to sniM. vtJAYA KUMAR GouD, Advocate toJqcl -- . ib. iil CCs to cp Fon-e oucAftoN, High court for thd state of Telangana, at Hyderabad. [OUTI 11. Ti,o-CCs to GP-F6R REVENUE, High Court for the State of Telangana, at Hyderabad. [OUT] 12. Two CD CoPies PSK. BS t HIGH COURT DATED:1210212026 D lriuSI ORDER WP. No. 4404 of 2026 o ! rr,R ? iUq 1 ? * * ALLOWING THE WRIT PETITION WITHOU-T C o STS 6 \ 1a 6b \ \

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