P.Lokesh Babu Vs the State of Andhra Pradesh — Writ and Judicial Review | Andhra Pradesh HC (2026)

P.Lokesh Babu Vs the State of Andhra Pradesh — Writ and Judicial Review | Andhra Pradesh HC (2026)

What the court decided

AI extract

Outcome

No substantive relief adjudicated; the writ petition was closed with no costs as nothing survived in view of the petitioner's continuation in the respondent no.3 institution per the Court's interim directions dated 12.7.2022 and his promotion as Assistant Executive Officer vide order dated 19.9.2022.

Issue for consideration

Whether the transfer of the petitioner from the 3rd respondent temple to the 4th respondent temple by the 2nd respondent's proceedings Rc.No.C1/13021/1/2022-1 dated 30.06.2022, depriving him of the chance of promotion to the post of Assistant Executive Officer at his parent institution, is bad, illegal and contrary to the A.P. Charitable and Hindu Religious Institutions and Endowments Act 1987, G.O.Ms.No.301 dated 12.10.2020, G.O.Ms.No.888 dated 08.12.2000, and Articles 14 and 16(1) of the Constitution of India.

Court's answer

Nothing survives in the writ petition to decide, as the petitioner has continued in the respondent no.3 institution as per the Court's directions dated 12.7.2022 and has been further promoted vide order dated 19.9.2022.

Ratio / Principle

The writ petition is closed with no costs, and as a sequel the pending interlocutory applications, if any, shall also stand closed.

Detailed headnote1 paragraphs

Andhra Pradesh High Court at Amaravati (Single Bench, Justice D. Ramesh), Writ Petition No.19195 of 2022, decided 29.04.2026: A Superintendent of Srikalahasteeswara Swamy Vari Devasthanam, Srikalahasti, filed an Article 226 writ of mandamus declaring illegal his transfer by the Commissioner of Endowments (2nd respondent) in proceedings Rc.No.C1/13021/1/2022-1 dated 30.06.2022 to Sri Bharamba Mallikharjuna Swamy Van Devasthanam, Srisailam (4th respondent), on the ground that it deprived him of promotion to Assistant Executive Officer at his parent institution, contrary to the A.P. Charitable and Hindu Religious Institutions and Endowments Act 1987, G.O.Ms.No.301 Revenue (Endowments.I) Department dated 12.10.2020, G.O.Ms.No.888 Revenue (endowments.I) Department dated 08.12.2000, and Articles 14 and 16(1) of the Constitution. The Court had suspended the impugned transfer interim-wise on 12.7.2022; thereafter respondent no.3 itself promoted the petitioner as Assistant Executive Officer vide orders dated 19.9.2022. Holding that nothing survived to decide, the Court closed the writ petition with no costs, and pending interlocutory applications stood closed. The merits of the transfer order were not adjudicated.

APHC010321592022

IN THE HIGH COURT OF ANDHRA PRADESH AT AMARAVATI

(Special Original Jurisdiction)

[3208]

WEDNESDAY, THE TWENTY NINETH DAY OF APRIL TWO THOUSAND AND TWENTY SIX

PRESENT

THE HONOURABLE SRI JUSTICE D RAMESH

WRIT PETITION NO: 19195/2022

Between:

P.LOKESH BABU, S/O. LATE P.SANKAR REDDY, AGED ABOUT 44 YEARS, OCC. SUPERINTENDENT OF SRIKALAHASTEESWARA SWAMY VARI DEVASTHANAM, R/O.D.NO.4-128C, PERUMALAPALLI VILLAGE, TIRUPATHI RURAL MANDAL, CHITTOOR DISTRICT517644.

...PETITIONER

AND

1. THE STATE OF ANDHRA PRADESH, REP. BY ITS PRINCIPAL SECRETARY, REVENUE (ENDOWMENTS) DEPARTMENT, SECRETARIAT, AT VELAGAPUDI, AMARAVATHI, GUNTUR DISTRICT.

THE COMMISSIONER, ENDOWMENTS DEPARTMENT, A.P., GOLLAPUDI, VIJAYAWADA, KRISHNA DISTRICT.

SRIKALAHASTEESWARA SWAMY VARI DEVASTHANAM, SRIKALAHASTI, CHITTOOR DISTRICT, REP.BY IT'S EXECUTIVE OFFICER.

SRI BHARAMBA MALLIKHARJUNA SWAMY VAN DEVASTHANAM, SRISAILAM, KURNOOL DISTRICT, REP.BY ITS EXECUTIVE OFFICER.

...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 to issue a Writ, Order or direction more particularly one in the nature of WRIT OF MANDAMUS declaring the orders of 2nd respondent in proceedings in Rc.No.C1/13021/1/2022-1, dated 30.06.2022, to the extent of transferring the petitioner from 3rd respondent temple to 4^th respondent temple, showing at serial no.4 (page.3 of the said order) under the caption of Superintendents, depriving the chance of promotion to the post of Assistant Executive Officer at

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3rd respondent temple being his parent institution as being bad , illegal, contrary to the provisions of A.P. Charitable and Hindu Religious Institutions and Endowments Act 1987 and statutory rules issued in G.O.Ms.No.301 Revenue (Endowments.I) Department dated 12.10.2020 for regulating transfers and service rules issued in G.O.Ms.No.888 Revenue (endowments.I) Department dated 08.12.2000, besides offending Articles 14 and 16 (1) of Constitution of India and consequentially to set aside the same to the extent the petitioner is concerned and to pass such

IA NO: 1 OF 2022

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 suspend the operation of orders of 2"d respondent in proceedings in Rc.No.C1/13021/1/2022-1, dated 30.06.2022, to the extent of transferring the petitioner from 3`d respondent temple to 4th respondent temple, showing at serial no.4 (page.3 of the said order) under the caption of Superintendents, pending disposal of the Writ Petition and pass such

IA NO: 2 OF 2022

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 vacate the itnerim order dated 12-07-2022 in IA 1/2022 in WP. 19195/2022 and consequently dismiss the WP 19195/2022 on the ground of devoid of merits

IA NO: 3 OF 2022

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 vacate the interim orders passed in I.A.No.1/2022 in W.P.No.19195/2022, dated Olt.07.2022, and dismiss the main Writ Petition as devoid of merits and pass

Counsel for the Petitioner:

1.V V N NARASIMHAM

Counsel for the Respondent(S):

1.T VENU GOPAL SC FOR ENDOWMENTS (RAYALASEEMA REGION)

2.GP FOR ENDOWMENTS

3.GP FOR SERVICES II

The Court made the following:

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ORDER:

The present Writ Petition is filed, under Article 226 of the

Constitution of India, seeking the following relief:

“to issue any writ, order or direction more particularly one in the nature of Writ of Mandamus or an appropriate writ or order declaring the orders of 2nd respondent in proceedings in Rc.No.C1/13021/1/2022-1, dated 30.06.2022, to the extent of transferring the petitioner from 3rd respondent temple to 4^th respondent temple, showing at serial no.4 (page.3 of the said order) under the caption of Superintendents, depriving the chance of promotion to the post of A.E.O at 3^rd respondent temple being his parent institution as being bad, illegal, contrary to the provisions of A.P. Charitable and Hindu Religious Institutions and Endowments Act 1987 and statutory rules issued in G.O.Ms.No.301 Revenue (Endowments.I) Department dated 12.10.2020 for regulating transfers and service rules issued in G.O.Ms.No.888 Revenue (Endowments.I) Department dated 08.12.2000, besides offending Articles 14 and 16 (1) of Constitution of India and consequentially to set aside the same to the extent the petitioner is concerned and to pass such….”

Heard M/s. Sambasiva Pratap Evana, learned counsel for the petitioner and learned Government Pleader for Services-II and learned standing counsel appearing for respondents.

Considering the submissions, this Court has passed interim order on 12.7.2022 which reads as follows:

“…. In view of the facts and circumstances, there shall be interim suspension of the impugned proceedings dated 30.6.2022 only to the extent of transferring the petitioner from 3^rd respondent Temple to 4^th respondent Temple till 10.8.2022….”

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Subsequently, respondent no.3 has considered the case of the petitioner and further promoted as Assistant Executive Officer in the said institution vide orders dated 19.9.2022.

In view of the above said orders, nothing survives in this Writ Petition to decide as the petitioner has continued in respondent no.3 institution as per the directions of this Court dated 12.7.2022 and also got further promotion vide order dated 19.9.2022.

Hence the Writ Petition is closed. No costs.

As a sequel thereto, interlocutory applications pending, if any, in the writ petition, shall also stand closed.

__________________ JUSTICE D.RAMESH

29.4.2026 RD

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THE HONOURABLE SRI JUSTICE D.RAMESH

WRIT PETITION No.19195 OF 2022

29.4.2026

RD