Vinjamurri Sriram Pavan Kumar Vs State of… — Writ and Judicial Review | Andhra Pradesh HC (2026)

Vinjamurri Sriram Pavan Kumar Vs State of… — Writ and Judicial Review | Andhra Pradesh HC (2026)

What the court decided

AI extract

Outcome

Permission to withdraw the writ petition was granted; the writ petition was dismissed as withdrawn and no costs were ordered; pending miscellaneous petitions were closed as a sequel.

Issue for consideration

Whether the promotion of about 30 incumbents as Grade II Vratha Purohits through Proceedings Rc.No. J1/19/2019 dated 18.07.2019 by the 3rd respondent, effected contrary to the guidelines in Proceedings A/5926/2009 dated 20.04.2012 and while W.P. No. 18392/2016 was pending, was arbitrary, illegal, discriminatory and mala fide in violation of Articles 14, 16 and 21 of the Constitution and ought to be quashed. (Raised in the prayer; not adjudicated, as the petition was withdrawn.)

Ratio / Principle

The Court accorded permission to learned counsel for the petitioners to withdraw the writ petition.

Key takeaways

The Writ Petition was dismissed as withdrawn, with no costs awarded.ratio¶44
As a sequel to the dismissal, miscellaneous petitions pending in the case, if any, were directed to stand closed.ratio¶46

Detailed headnote1 paragraphs

Withdrawal of writ petition — W.P. No. 14043 of 2020 (APHC010213282020), High Court of Andhra Pradesh at Amaravati (Special Original Jurisdiction), Venkateswarlu Nimmagadda, J., 13.03.2026: Three Vratha Purohits Grade-III of Sri Veera Venkata Satyanarayana Swamy Vari Devasthanam, Annavaram had sought a writ of mandamus under Article 226 declaring Proceedings Rc.No. J1/19/2019 dated 18.07.2019 of the Joint Commissioner/Executive Officer — promoting as many as 30 incumbents to Grade II Vratha Purohits, allegedly contrary to guidelines in Proceedings A/5926/2009 dated 20.04.2012 and issued while W.P. No. 18392/2016 was pending — as well as consequential proceedings dated 29.07.2020, arbitrary, illegal, discriminatory and mala fide in violation of Articles 14, 16 and 21 of the Constitution, and to set them aside. Before any adjudication, counsel for the petitioners sought permission to withdraw; the Court accorded permission, dismissed the writ petition as withdrawn imposing no costs, and directed that pending miscellaneous petitions stand closed. No substantive finding on the promotion controversy was recorded.

APHC010213282020

[3329]

IN THE HIGH COURT OF ANDHRA PRADESH AT AMARAVATI

(Special Original Jurisdiction)

FRIDAY,THE THIRTEENTH DAY OF MARCH TWO THOUSAND AND TWENTY SIX

PRESENT

THE HONOURABLE SRI JUSTICE VENKATESWARLU NIMMAGADDA WRIT PETITION NO: 14043/2020

Between:

VINJAMURRI SRIRAM PAVAN KUMAR, S/O.SUBBA RAO, AGED 32 YEARS, VRATA PUROHITH GRADE-III SRI VEERA VENKATA SATYANARAYANA SWAMY VARI DEVASTHANAM, ANNAVARAM, EG DISTRICT

UKKARALLU RAVI KIRAN SHARMA, S/O VENKAT RAO, AGED 31 YEARS, VRATA PUROHITH GRADE-ILL SRI VEERA VENKATA SATYANARAYANA SWAMY VARI DEVASTHANAM, ANNAVARAM, EG DISTRICT

MUKRALA SANDEEP KUMAR, S/O RAMAKRISHNA AGED 31 YEARS, VRATA PUROHITH GRADE-III SRI VEERA VENKATA SATYANARAYANA SWAMY VARI DEVASTHANAM, ANNAVARAM, EG DISTRICT

...PETITIONER(S)

AND

STATE OF ANDHRA PRADESH, REPRESENTED BY ITS PRINCIPAL SECRETARY, AP ENDOWMENTS DEPARTMENT, AP SECRETARIAT, VELAGAPUDI, AMARAVATHI GUNTUR DISTRICT

THE COMMISSIONER OF ENDOWMENTS GOLLAPUDI, VIJAYAWADA, KRISHNA DISTRICT ANDHRA PRADESH

THE JOINT COMMISSIONER AND EXECUTIVE OFFICER, SRI VEERA VENKATA SATYANARAYANA SWAMY VARI DEVASTHANAM, ANNAVARAM, EG DISTRICT

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SRI VEERA VENKATA SATYANARAYANA SWAMY VARI DEVASTHANAM VRATHA PUROHITHS ASSOCIATION, AANNAVARAM, EG DISTRICT, REPRESENTED BY ITS PRESIDENT SRI CHAMURTHI VENKAT REDDY KANNA BABU R/O ANNAVARAM, EG DISTRICT

INDRAGANTI EASHWAR VENKATA BHAGVADHI RAO, S/ORAMA RAO, AGED YEARS, VRATA PUROHITH GRADE-II SRI VEERA VENKATA SATYANARAYANA SWAMY VARI DEVASTHANAM, ANNAVARAM, EG DISTRICT

DEVARPATLA KAMESWAR RAO, S/O SATYANARAYANA, AGED 34 YEARS, VRATA PUROHITH GRADE-II SRI VEERA VENKATA SATYANARAYANA SWAMY VARI DEVASTHANAM, ANNAVARAM, EG DISTRICT

V BHASYAM VENKAT SATYA SUBRAMANYA JAGANADHAM, S/O RAMA RAJU, AGED V YEARS, VRATA PUROHITH GRADE-II, SRI VEERA VENKATA SATYANARAYANA SWAMY VARI DEVASTHANAM, ANNAVARAM, EG DISTRICT

DIVUENDALA ANAND KUMAR, S/O VENKAT RAO, AGED YEARS, VRATA PUROHITH GRADE-II SRI VEERA VENKATA SATYANARAYANA SWAMY VARI DEVASTHANAM, ANNAVARAM, EG DISTRICT

...RESPONDENT(S):

Petition under Article 226 of the Constitution of India praying that in the circumstances stated in the affidavit filed therewith, the High Court may be pleased topleased to issue a writ, order, or direction, more in the nature of writ of mandamus under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, declaring the Proceedings Rc.No. J1/19/2019 Dated 18.07.2019 issued by the 3rd respondent, in so far as it relates to promoting as many as 30 incumbents by the members of non existing association to the post of Grade II Vratha Purohits, contrary to guidelines issued in Proceedings A/5926/2009 Dated 20.04.2012 issue by 2nd respondent, while the matter is subjudice in WP No. 18392/2016, and consequential proceedings dated 29.07.2020 not communicating without extending such benefit of promotion to the petitioners as arbitrary, illegal, discriminatory, malafide violating Article 14, 16 and 21 of the Constitution of India and set aside the same, and to pass

IA NO: 1 OF 2020

3

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 pleased to suspend the operation of proceedings Rc.No. J1/19/2019 Dated 18.07.2019 issued by the 3rd respondent, and consequential proceedings dated 29.07.2020 [not communicated], pending disposal of the writ petition.

IA NO: 1 OF 2024

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 may be pleased to grant LEAVE to file counter affidavit in the above writ petition W.P. No: 14043 of 2020 in the interest of justice and pass

Counsel for the Petitioner(S):

1.S V INDIRA

Counsel for the Respondent(S):

1.T BALAJI

2.KOTESWARA RAO KAPPERA SC For Endowments

3.GP FOR ENDOWMENTS

4.P RAJASEKHAR

The Court made the following:

4

THE HONOURABLE SRI JUSTICE VENKATESWARLU NIMMAGADDA

WRIT PETITION NO: 14043/2020

Learned counsel for the petitioners seeks permission of this Court

to withdraw the present writ petition.

Permission as sought for is accorded.

Accordingly, the Writ Petition is dismissed as withdrawn. No

costs.

As a sequel, miscellaneous petitions, if any, pending shall stand closed.

VENKATESWARLU NIMMAGADDA, J

13.03.2026 BSP/TPS

5

01

HON’BLE SRI JUSTICE VENKATESWARLU NIMMAGADDA

WRIT PETITION NO: 14043/2020

Dated:13.03.2026

BSP/TPS