The Madhya Pradesh High Court has set aside orders reinstating a retired Anganwadi worker and terminating her successor, holding that Aadhaar and voter ID cards cannot be treated as conclusive proof of date of birth in service matters.

Justice Jai Kumar Pillai held that these documents are created based on self-declaration and are only meant for identification purposes and cannot be statutory proof for determination of age in service matters.

“These documents are prepared on the basis of self-declaration and are meant for identification purposes alone. They are neither primary evidence nor statutory proof for determination of age in service matters,” the court held.

The court directed to reinstate the petitioner Pramila on the post of Anganwadi Sahayika, Anganwadi Centre Jamli (Ambapura) and the benefit with continuity of service and all consequential benefits, including notional seniority and monetary benefits.