Billa Sanjeevaiah Vs the State of Andhra Pradesh

BILLA SANJEEVAIAH, S/O LATE NARAYANA AGED ABOUT 55, YEARS SUB REGISTRAR GRADE-1/ SUPERINTENDENT, O/O. COMMISSIONER AND INSPECTOR GENERAL OF REGISTRATIONS AND STAMPS, TADEPALLY, GUNTUR DISTRICT, PRESENTLY WORKING AS JOINT SUB REGISTRAR, MADUGULA UNDER ORDERS OF DEPUTATION.

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...PETITIONER

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AND

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THE STATE OF ANDHRA PRADESH, REP. BY ITS PRINCIPAL SECRETARY REVENUE DEPARTMENT, SECRETARIAT, VELAGAPUDI, AMARAVATHI, GUNTUR DISTRICT.522501

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THE COMMISSIONER AND INSPECTOR GENERAL OF STAMPS AND REGISTRATIONS, V SQUARE BUILDING, KSR PARK ROAD, WARD NO.2, TADEPALLI, GUNTUR DISTRICT, - 522501

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THE DEPUTY INSPECTOR GENERAL, REGISTRATION AND STAMPS, VISAKHAPATNAM, VISAKHAPATNAM DISTRICT. 530001

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...RESPONDENT(S):

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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 in the nature of Writ of Mandamus by declaring the impugned action of the respondents in not considering the case of the petitioner for promotion to the post District

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Registrar from the post of sub Registrar Grade-I due to pendency of FIR.No. 16/RCA-ACB/CIU/AP-VJA/2016, dated 02.11.2016 on the file of Deputy Superintendent of Police, CIU-AP, ACB and Article of charges vide issued proceedings E/1409/2016, dated 17.10.2024 of 3^rd respondent as illegal, arbitrary and against the Article 14, 16 and 21 of the Constitution of India and consequently direct the respondents to consider the case of the petitioner for promotion to the post of District Registrar from the post of Sub Registrar Grade-I without reference to the proceedings E/1409/2016, dated 17.10.2024 of respondent and to pass

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IA NO: 1 OF 2026

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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 to direct the respondents to consider the case of the petitioner for promotion to the post of District Registrar from the post of Sub Registrar Grade-I without reference to a crime FIR.No.16/RCA-ACB/CIU/AP-VJA/2016, dated 02.11.2016 on the file of Deputy Superintendent of Police, CIU-AP, ACB and proceedings E/1409/2016, dated 17.10.2024 of 3rd respondent and to pass

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Counsel for the Petitioner:

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1.HARINATH REDDY SOMAGUTTA

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Counsel for the Respondent(S):

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1.GP FOR SERVICES I

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THE HONOURABLE SRI JUSTICE D.RAMESH

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ORDER:

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The Writ Petition is field under Article 226 of Constitution of India for the

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following relief:

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“…to issue a writ, order or direction more in the nature of Writ of Mandamus by declaring the impugned action of the respondents in not considering the case of the petitioner for promotion to the post District Registrar from the post of sub Registrar Grade-I due to pendency of FIR No.16/RCA-ACB/CIU/AP-VJA/2016, dated 02.11.2016 on the file of Deputy Superintendent of Police, CIU-AP, ACB and Article of charges vide issued proceedings E/1409/2016, dated 17.10.2024 of 3rd respondent as illegal, arbitrary and against the Article 14, 16 and 21 of the Constitution of India and consequently direct the respondents to consider the case of the petitioner for promotion to the post of District Registrar from the post of Sub Registrar Grade-I without reference to the proceedings E/1409/2016, dated 17.10.2024 of respondent and to pass…”

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Heard learned counsel for the petitioner and learned Assistant Government Pleader appearing for respondents.

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The case of the petitioner was promoted to Sub-Registrar Grade-I on 13.10.2016 and has been working in the post of Superintendent. While the things stood, thus, ACB, CIU-Andhra Pradesh, Vijayawada has registered a crime against me vide F.I.R.No.16/RCA-ACB/CIU/Andhra Pradesh-VJA/2016 dated 02.11.2026 under Section 13(2) r/w 13(1)(e) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988. Against the same, the petitioner filed quash petition on the file of this Court and the same was quashed vide order dated 01.08.2025. The Hon’ble Supreme Court has set aside the judgment of this Court vide S.L.P.(Crl) Nos.14321, 14333 of 2025 dated 08.01.2026. A review petition which was filed by the petitioner herein, is pending on the file of the Hon’ble Apex Court. While the things stood thus, the 2^nd respondent issued letter

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dated 04.11.2025 published in Government Gazette on 05.11.2025 showing inter seniority list of Sub-Registrar Grade-I showing the seniority of the petitioner. The 1^st respondent has also promoted the juniors of the petitioner and ignored the case of the petitioner herein due to pendency of allegations. Hence, this Writ Petition.

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Learned counsel for the petitioner relies on the order of this Court in W.P.No.2609 of 2026, wherein this Court has directed the respondents to consider the case of the petitioner for the post of District Registrar from the post of Sub-Registrar Grade-I, without referring the charge memo pending against the petitioner and seeks similar relief in the present case also.

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Learned Assistant Government Pleader appearing for respondents does not dispute with the submissions of learned counsel for the petitioner and submits that this Court may pass appropriate orders.

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Considering the submissions made and without going into the merits of the case, this Writ Petition is disposed of, directing the respondents to consider the case of the petitioner for promotion to the post of District Registrar from the post of Sub-Registrar Grade-I, without reference to the charge memo dated 17.10.2024 pending against the petitioner, subject to petitioner possessing the requisite qualifications and eligibility with a consequential direction to conclude the enquiry in terms of G.O.Ms.No.91, General Administration (Ser.C) Department dated 12.09.2022.

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There shall be no order as to costs. As a sequel, miscellaneous

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petitions, pending if any, shall stand closed.

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__________________________ JUSTICE D.RAMESH

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Date: 10.02.2026 M K K

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67

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THE HONOURABLE SRI JUSTICE D.RAMESH