V Ramesh v. the Ap Eastern Power Distribution Company Ltd.

Andhra Pradesh HC8 Jul 2026WP/18805/2025

Case brief

AI extract

What is this about?

Withholding of annual increments during pendency of criminal case (ACB trap under Section 7(a), Prevention of Corruption (Amendment) Act, 2018) and departmental enquiry — APEPDCL Assistant Lineman, promotion to Line Man denied; increments may be considered/released notwithstanding pendency; relies on/follows W.P. No. 241 of 2025 dated 18.06.2026; Andhra Pradesh High Court; writ petition disposed of with directions; no costs.

What did the court decide?

Writ Petition disposed of with directions: (i) Respondents to consider grant of annual increments to the Petitioner notwithstanding pendency of the criminal case and departmental enquiry within one month from receipt of copy of the Order; (ii) no order as to costs; miscellaneous petitions, if any, closed. ¶¶31

V Ramesh Vs the Ap Eastern Power Distribution Company Ltd. — Corruption | Andhra Pradesh HC (2026)

What the court decided

AI extract

Outcome

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Issue for consideration

Whether the respondents' failure to consider the Petitioner for promotion to the post of Line Man on the ground of pendency of a criminal case and departmental enquiry, and their non-release of increments, is illegal and arbitrary. +1 more

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Ratio / Principle

Annual increments due to the Petitioner can be granted notwithstanding the pendency of the criminal case and departmental enquiry, in view of this Court's judgment in W.P. No. 241 of 2025 dated 18.06.2026, whereunder similarly placed individuals were granted annual increments pending such proceedings.

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Key takeaways

The Respondents are directed to consider the case of the Petitioner for grant of annual increments notwithstanding the pendency of the criminal case and departmental enquiry, within one month from receipt of a copy of the Order.ratio¶¶32

Detailed headnote1 paragraphs

Andhra Pradesh High Court (Amaravati) — W.P. No. 18805 of 2025 (Nyapathy Vijay, J.) — Petitioner, an Assistant Lineman in AP Eastern Power Distribution Company Ltd, had a criminal case registered against him on 27.03.2023 under Section 7(a) of the Prevention of Corruption (Amendment) Act, 2018 by the Anti-Corruption Bureau (charge sheet filed January 2026; alleged bribe Rs. 15,000/-), on whose basis a Departmental Enquiry was also issued. With promotion to Line Man and sanction/release of annual increments withheld due to the pendency of these proceedings, counsel for the Petitioner restricted the prayer to the annual increments, relying on this Court's order in W.P. No. 241 of 2025 dated 18.06.2026 granting increments to similarly placed individuals. Held: annual increments due to an employee can be granted notwithstanding the pendency of a criminal case and departmental enquiry; Respondents directed to consider the grant of annual increments within one month from receipt of copy of the Order. Writ Petition disposed of; no order as to costs.

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Date of reserved for orders : Date of pronouncement :09-07-2026 Date of uploading :

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APHC010365572025

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IN THE HIGH COURT OF ANDHRA PRADESH AT AMARAVATI [3460]

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(Special Original Jurisdiction)

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THURSDAY, THE 9^th DAY OF JULY 2026

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PRESENT

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THE HONOURABLE SRI JUSTICE NYAPATHY VIJAY

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WRIT PETITION NO: 18805/2025

Between:

V Ramesh

...PETITIONER

AND

The Ap Eastern Power Distribution Company Ltd and ...RESPONDENT(S) Others

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Counsel for the Petitioner:

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1.B.ABHAY SIDDHANTH MOOTHA

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Counsel for the Respondent(S):

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1.V V SATISH (SC for APEPDCL)

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The Court made the following:

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THE HON’BLE SRI JUSTICE NYAPATHY VIJAY

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W.P.No.18805 of 2025

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O R D E R:

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The present Writ Petition is filed questioning the action of the respondents in not considering the case of the Petitioner for promotion to the post of Line Man on the ground of pendency of criminal case and departmental enquiry and non sanctioning and releasing the increments due to the Petitioner as illegal and arbitrary.

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The Petitioner is working as an Assistant Lineman in the Respondent Corporation. While so, a criminal case was registered against the Petitioner on 27.03.2023 for offences punishable under Section 7(a) of the Prevention of Corruption (Amendment) Act, 2018, by the Anti-Corruption Bureau. It is stated that the police, after investigation, filed a charge sheet in the said case in January, 2026. The allegation against the Petitioner is that the Petitioner is alleged to have admitted and accepted a bribe amount of Rs. 15,000/-. Basing on the said trap, a Departmental Enquiry was also issued against the Petitioner by the Respondent Corporation.

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During the course of arguments, the learned counsel for the Petitioner restricted his prayer to the granting of annual increments due to the Petitioner, which are pending on account of the criminal case and Departmental Enquiry. To support his contentions, the learned counsel for the Petitioner relied upon the Order passed by this Court in W.P. No. 241 of 2025, dated 18.06.2026.

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Learned Standing Counsel appearing for the Respondents

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submits that the case of the Petitioner would be examined as per his entitlement and appropriate orders would be communicated to the Petitioner.

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Heard the learned counsels.

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As the learned counsel for the Petitioner is seeking only the annual increments due to the Petitioner, the same can be granted notwithstanding the pendency of the criminal case and departmental enquiry, in view of the judgment of this Court in W.P. No. 241 of 2025, dated 18.06.2026, whereunder individuals who are similarly placed as the Petitioner are granted annual increments pending the criminal case and departmental proceedings.

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Accordingly, the Writ Petition is disposed of with the following directions:

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i) The Respondents are directed to consider the case of the Petitioner for grant of annual increments notwithstanding the pendency of the criminal case and departmental enquiry within a period of one month from the date of receipt of a copy of this Order.

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ii) There shall be no order as to costs.

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

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__________________ NYAPATHY VIJAY, J

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Date: 09.07.2026

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Whether the order is:

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