M Venkata Ramana Vs The State of Andhra… — Writ and Judicial Review | Andhra Pradesh HC (2025)

M Venkata Ramana Vs The State of Andhra… — Writ and Judicial Review | Andhra Pradesh HC (2025)

What the court decided

AI extract

Outcome

Direction to the 2nd respondent to take a decision in the matter of the petitioners' promotions within three months from the date of receipt of the order, in accordance with law; writ petition disposed of; no order as to costs; pending interlocutory applications, if any, closed.

Issue for consideration

Whether the impugned order of respondent No.3 dated 28.10.2021 rejecting promotion of the petitioners from VRAs to VROs, and declaring their VRA appointments irregular pending a Government policy decision, is illegal, arbitrary and unconstitutional; and whether the petitioners' cases should be considered for promotion to Village Revenue Officers Grade II against existing posts as per the seniority list.

Court's answer

Since the Government is yet to take a decision in respect of the promotions of the petitioners, this Court did not adjudicate the legality of the impugned order but disposed of the writ petition, directing the 2nd respondent to take a decision in the matter within a period of three (03) months from the date of receipt of the order, in accordance with law.

Detailed headnote1 paragraphs

High Court of Andhra Pradesh at Amaravati (Dr. Justice K. Manmadha Rao, J.), Writ Petition No. 2761 of 2022 (M Venkata Ramana and Others v. The State of Andhra Pradesh and Others), decided 03.01.2025: Petitioners, working as Village Servants since 2007 in Chittoor District, were terminated in 2008 with 84 others as ban-period appointees; the Tribunal (O.A.Nos.6916 & 6920 of 2008, common order dated 20.10.2008) set aside the terminations and ordered reinstatement, and the erstwhile High Court of Andhra Pradesh (W.P.No.28310 of 2008 and batch) confirmed the Tribunal's orders. The petitioners were nonetheless omitted from the eligible seniority list for promotion to Village Revenue Officers (VROs) circulated on 21.08.2020 (ROC.A8/E-280782/2020); a prior writ petition (W.P.No.23010 of 2020, disposed 10.12.2020) had directed the District Collector to decide their promotion within four weeks, and non-compliance led to Contempt Case C.C.No.155 of 2021. The Collector's proceedings dated 28.10.2021 (following CCLA instructions Ref.No.A2/581/2010 dated 27.08.2010) declared the petitioners' VRA appointments irregular and barred their promotion till a Government policy decision. Finding the Government still to take a decision, the Court disposed of the writ petition directing the 2nd respondent to take a decision on the promotions within three months, in accordance with law.

Procedural history

How this case reached the court

AI extract

Order under challenge
Proceedings dated 28.10.2021 (ref. Roc.A8/E280782/2020 / Ref.No.A8/280782/2020) issued by the District Collector (3rd respondent), as per CCLA instructions Ref.No.A2/581/2010 dated 27.08.2010, stating that the petitioners' appointments as VRAs are irregular and that they are not eligible for any promotions till a policy decision is taken by the Government.¶6
District Collector (3rd respondent) · 28.10.2021
Prior proceeding
Petitioners, initially working as Village Servants from 2007 in Chittoor District, were terminated in 2008 along with 84 others on the ground that they were appointed during the ban period.¶3
Prior proceeding
O.A.Nos.6916 and 6920 of 2008: the Tribunal, by common order dated 20.10.2008, set aside the termination order of the 4th respondent and directed reinstatement of the petitioners.¶3
Prior proceeding
W.P.No.28310 of 2008 and batch: the respondents challenged the Tribunal's order; the erstwhile High Court of Andhra Pradesh confirmed the order of the Tribunal.¶3
Prior proceeding
ROC.A8/E-280782/2020 dated 21.08.2020: the 3rd respondent issued proceedings showing the eligible senior list of persons for promotion to VRO.¶3
Prior proceeding
The names of the petitioners were not included in the said eligible seniority list dated 21.08.2020.¶3
Prior proceeding
W.P.No.23010 of 2020: aggrieved by exclusion, the petitioners approached the erstwhile High Court of Andhra Pradesh, which disposed of the writ petition on 10.12.2020 with a direction to the District Collector/3rd respondent to pass orders on the petitioners' promotion within four weeks.¶3
Prior proceeding
In pursuance of the 10.12.2020 direction, the Collector/3rd respondent issued an endorsement dated 30.01.2021 to the petitioners.¶5
Prior proceeding
The endorsement dated 30.01.2021 was addressed to the CCLA, AP, Hyderabad seeking clarification to consider the petitioners' cases for promotion.¶5
Prior proceeding
As the 10.12.2020 direction was not complied with, the petitioners filed Contempt Case C.C.No.155 of 2021 before this Court.¶3