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Dantham Kavitha v. The State of Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh HC9 Mar 2026WP/5967/2026

Case brief

AI extract

What is this about?

Writ petition disposal granting one more opportunity for enquiry participation; denial of further personal hearing after medical absence; notice dated 13.02.2026 by District BC Welfare & Empowerment Officer, Tirupati; explanation with relevant records within two weeks; hearing before completion of enquiry; no costs; procedural fairness / natural justice remedy without merits being examined.

What did the court decide?

One more opportunity ordered: petitioner to appear before the District B.C. Welfare & Empowerment Officer, Tirupati and submit her explanation with relevant records pursuant to the notice dated 13.02.2026 within two weeks of receiving the order; thereafter the 4th respondent to afford her an opportunity of hearing before completing the enquiry; no order as to costs. ¶30

Dantham Kavitha Vs The State of Andhra Pradesh — Andhra Pradesh HC (2026) — LawSathi Research

What the court decided

AI extract

Outcome

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Issue for consideration

Whether, having missed the enquiry fixed under the notice dated 13.02.2026 owing to medical reasons and having been given no further opportunity for a personal hearing or to submit her explanation, the petitioner should be afforded another opportunity to attend the enquiry and submit her explanation with the relevant records.

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Court's answer

Without going into the merits of the case, the Court disposed of the Writ Petition, directing the respondents to give the petitioner one more opportunity to appear before the District B.C. Welfare & Empowerment Officer, Tirupati to proceed with the enquiry and submit her explanation with the relevant records pursuant to the notice dated 13.02.2026, within two weeks from receipt of the order.

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Ratio / Principle

After submission of the explanation, the 4th respondent shall provide the petitioner an opportunity of hearing before completing the enquiry.

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Detailed headnote1 paragraphs

Andhra Pradesh High Court at Amaravati (Justice D Ramesh), W.P.No.5967 of 2026, decided 10.03.2026: Petitioner challenged a notice dated 13.02.2026 issued by the 4th respondent (District BC Welfare Empowerment Officer, Tirupati) fixing her appearance for an enquiry on 17.02.2026; she could not attend due to medical reasons and was given no further chance of personal hearing or to file her explanation. Disposed of without entering the merits: respondents ordered to grant one fresh opportunity to appear and submit the explanation with relevant records within two weeks of receipt of the order, following which the 4th respondent must hold a hearing before completing the enquiry. No costs.

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APHC010097822026

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IN THE HIGH COURT OF ANDHRA PRADESH AT AMARAVATI (Special Original Jurisdiction)

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[3208]

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TUESDAY, THE TENTH DAY OF MARCH TWO THOUSAND AND TWENTY SIX

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PRESENT

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THE HONOURABLE SRI JUSTICE D RAMESH WRIT PETITION NO: 5967/2026

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Between:

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DANTHAM KAVITHA, W/O. LATE BENJIMIN, AGED ABOUT 56 YEARS, OCC HWO, BE GIRLS HOSTEL, SULLURUPET, R/O. D. NO. 3-3-202, LA SAGARAM, AGRAHARAM PET, NAIDUPET TOWN AND MANDAL, TIRUPATI DISTRICT, PIN 524126.

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...PETITIONER

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AND

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THE STATE OF ANDHRA PRADESH, REP. BY ITS PRINCIPAL SECRETARY TO GOVERNMENT, BC WELFARE DEPARTMENT, SECRETARIAT, VELAGAPUDI, AMARAVATHI, GUNTUR DISTRICT, PIN 522238

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DIRECTOR BC WELFARE DEPARTMENT, 2ND FLOOR, VISHAL RESIDENCY, NEAR VR SIDDHARTHA COLLEGE, TADIGADAPA, KANURU, VIJAYAWADA, NTR DISTRICT, PIN 520007.

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DISTRICT COLLECTOR, TIRUPATI, TIRUPATI DISTRICT, PIN 517503.

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DISTRICT BC WELFARE EMPOWERMENT OFFICER, ROOM NO.611, B-BLOCK, PADMAVATHI NILAYAM, TIRUCHANOOR BY PASS ROAD, TIRUPATI, TIRUPATI DISTRICT, PIN 517503.

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DISTRICT BC WELFARE EMPOWERMENT OFFICER, OLD JUBILEE HOSPITAL COMPOUND, NEAR MADRAS BUS STAND CENTER, NEUORE, SPSR NELLORE DISTRICT, PIN 524003.

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INDUKURU KRISHNAIAH, S/O. LATE KUPPAIAH, AGED ABOUT 62 YEARS, OCC ABCWO, R/O. BC WELFARE OFFICE, NEAR

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PRIYADARSHINI JUNIOR KCOLLEGE,, PRIYADARSHINI NAGAR, ATMAKUR, NELLORE, SPSR NELLORE DISTRICT, PIN 524322.

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...RESPONDENT(S):

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Counsel for the Petitioner:

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1.MUCHAKAYALA NARAYANA

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Counsel for the Respondent(S):

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1.GP FOR SERVICES I

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2.GP FOR SERVICES II

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The Court made the following ORDER:

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The present Writ Petition is filed aggrieved by the notice dated 13.02.2026 issued by the 4^th respondent, wherein the 4^th respondent has directed the petitioner to appear before the District B.C. Welfare & Empowerment Officer, Tirupati on 17.02.2026 at 10.30 A.M., for enquiry along with the relevant records.

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2. However, the petitioner was unable to appear on that day due to medical reasons. Subsequently, the respondents have not provided any further opportunity to the petitioner for a personal hearing or to submit her explanation. Hence, the present Writ Petition.

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

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4. On perusal of the impugned notice and in view of the submissions made by the learned counsel for the petitioner, without going into the merits of the case, this Writ Petition is disposed of, directing the respondents to give one more opportunity to the petitioner to appear before the District B.C. Welfare & Empowerment Officer, Tirupati to proceed with the enquiry and submit the explanation along with the relevant records pursuant to the notice dated 13.02.2026 within a period of two (2) weeks from the date of receipt of copy of this order. After submitting the explanation, the 4^th respondent shall provide an opportunity of hearing to the petitioner before completing the enquiry. There shall be no order as to costs.

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As a sequel, miscellaneous applications pending, if any, shall stand

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closed.

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__________________

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JUSTICE D.RAMESH

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Date:10.03.2026 KNN

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