D Dhanamjaya Vs the State of Ap — Writ and Judicial Review | Andhra Pradesh HC (2026)

D Dhanamjaya Vs the State of Ap — Writ and Judicial Review | Andhra Pradesh HC (2026)

What the court decided

AI extract

Outcome

Dismissed

Issue for consideration

Whether the action of the respondents in not promoting the petitioner to the post of Senior Line Inspector on the ground of pendency of criminal cases is illegal, unjust, arbitrary and violative of Articles 14, 16 and 21 of the Constitution and Regulation 3B of APSEB Service Regulations Part III, warranting a writ of mandamus directing consideration of his case for promotion in terms of the Integrated Seniority list. +1 more

Ratio / Principle

Recording the submissions made by learned counsel for the petitioner that, subsequent to the filing of the Writ Petition, the petitioner was promoted on an ad hoc basis and the cause does not survive, the Court dismissed the Writ Petition as infructuous and directed that there shall be no order as to costs.

Key takeaways

As a sequel to the dismissal, miscellaneous petitions pending, if any, shall stand closed.obiter¶41

Detailed headnote1 paragraphs

W.P. No. 8123 of 2023 | D. Dhanamjaya v. The State of A.P. and others | High Court of Andhra Pradesh at Amaravati (Special Original Jurisdiction) | Balaji Medamalli, J. | Decided 09.07.2026 — The petitioner, a Line Inspector with APSPDCL (Operations), Nellore, had sought a writ of mandamus declaring illegal, unjust, arbitrary and violative of Articles 14, 16 and 21 of the Constitution and Regulation 3B of APSEB Service Regulations Part III the respondents' action in not promoting him to the post of Senior Line Inspector on the ground of pendency of criminal cases, with direction to consider his case in terms of the Integrated Seniority list of Line Inspectors issued by the Superintendent Engineer, Nellore vide Memo dated 28.01.2017; an interim application under Section 151 CPC sought immediate promotion pending disposal. At the hearing, learned counsel for the petitioner submitted that the petitioner had meanwhile been promoted on an ad hoc basis and the cause did not survive; accordingly the Court dismissed the Writ Petition as infructuous, made no order as to costs, and closed miscellaneous petitions. The substantive grievance of promotion withheld owing to pending criminal cases was left unaddressed by this order, and no precedent was cited or engaged with anywhere in the judgment.

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Date of reserved for orders :--Date of pronouncement :09.07.2026 Date of uploading :09.07.2026

APHC010157442023

IN THE HIGH COURT OF ANDHRA PRADESH AT AMARAVATI

(Special Original Jurisdiction)

[3573]

THURSDAY, THE 9^th DAY OF JULY 2026

PRESENT

THE HONOURABLE SRI JUSTICE BALAJI MEDAMALLI

WRIT PETITION NO: 8123/2023

Between:

D DHANAMJAYA, S/O. LATE D.KRISHNAIAH, AGED ABOUT 55 YEARS, OCC. LINE INSPECTOR, WORKS AT APSPDCL (OPERATIONS) SITHARAMPURAM (M), ATHMAKURU DIVISION, SPSR NELLORE DISTRICT.

...PETITIONER

AND

THE STATE OF AP, REP. BY ITS PRINCIPAL SECRETARY TO GOVERNMENT, ENERGY DEPARTMENT, SECRETARIAT, VELAGAPUDI, AMARAVATI, GUNTUR DISTRICT.

THE CHAIRMAN AND MANAGING DIRECTOR, APSPDCL, OFFICE AT TIRUPATI.

THE CHIEF GENERAL MANAGER, HRD, APSPDCL, TIRUPATI.

THE SUPERINTENDENT ENGINEER, APSPDCL ( OPERATIONS), NELLORE, SPSR NELLORE 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 to issue a writ, order or direction more particularly one in the nature of WRIT OF MANDAMUS declaring the action of respondents in not promoting the petitioner to the post of Senior Line Inspector on the ground of pendency

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of criminal cases as illegal, unjust, arbitrary and in violation of Articles 14, 16 and 21 of Constitution of India, principles of natural justice and in violation of the Regulation 3B of APSEB Service Regulations Part III and also the orders of this Honourable Court and consequently direct the respondents to consider the case of the petitioner for promotion to the above said post in terms of the Integrated Seniority list of Line inspectors of operation circle Nellore as on 3112-2015 issued by the 4th respondent vide Memo No. SE/O/NLR/PO/JA0/Adm/SA-2/D.No. 193 / 2017 dated 28.01.2017 and pass

IA NO: 1 OF 2023

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 direct the respondents to promote the petitioner to the post of Senior Line Inspector in the Existing Vacancies under the control of 4th respondent circle forthwith without reference to the pendency of criminal cases against the petitioner, pending disposal of the main Writ Petition and pass

Counsel for the Petitioner:

1.M RAVINDRA

Counsel for the Respondent(S):

1.Venkata Rama Rao Kota SC FOR APSPDCL

2.GP FOR SERVICES II

The Court made the following:

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THE HONOURABLE SRI JUSTICE BALAJI MEDAMALLI

WRIT PETITION NO: 8123/2023

ORDER

The Writ Petition has been filed by the petitioner seeking to

declare the action of respondents in not promoting the petitioner to the post of

Senior Line Inspector on the ground of pendency of criminal cases.

Mr. M. Ravindra, learned counsel for the petitioner, submits that,

subsequent to filing the Writ Petition, the petitioner was promoted on an ad hoc basis and as such the cause does not survive in the Writ petition.

Recording the submissions made by the learned counsel for the petitioner, the Writ Petition is dismissed as infructuous. There shall be no order as to costs.

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

____________________ BALAJI MEDAMALLI, J

Date: 09.07.2026 SSA

Speaking Yes/No / Reasoned Yes/No Reportable Yes/No / Non-Reportable Yes/No

Whether the order is :

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THE HONOURABLE JUSTICE BALAJI MEDAMALLI

WRIT PETITION NO: 8123 of 2023

Date: 09.07.2026 SSA

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