K.Srinivasa Rao, Vs The State of Andhra Pradesh — Andhra Pradesh HC (2026) — LawSathi Research

K.Srinivasa Rao, Vs The State of Andhra Pradesh — Andhra Pradesh HC (2026) — LawSathi Research

What the court decided

AI extract

Outcome

Writ petition disposed of with directions to the respondents to (i) conclude the disciplinary proceedings against the petitioner in terms of G.O.Ms.No.91, dated 12.09.2022, within one month from receipt of a copy of the order, and (ii) process and release the petitioner's retirement benefits without reference to the pending disciplinary proceedings; pending Miscellaneous Petitions, if any, stand closed; no order as to costs.

Issue for consideration

Whether the respondents' failure to conclude the disciplinary proceedings initiated against the petitioner vide Rc.No.A1/4/2023, dated 18.03.2023, despite submission of the inquiry report dated 29.07.2024, is illegal, arbitrary and contrary to the A.P. Civil Services (Classification, Control and Appeal) Rules, 1991 and the A.P. Civil Services (Conduct) Rules, 1964. +1 more

Court's answer

Without going into the merits of the case, and noting that the inquiry has already been conducted and the report submitted to the disciplinary authority on 29.07.2024, the Court disposed of the writ petition with a direction to the respondents to conclude the disciplinary proceedings against the petitioner in terms of G.O.Ms.No.91, dated 12.09.2022, within one month from receipt of a copy of the order.

Ratio / Principle

The respondents were further directed to process the retirement benefits due to the petitioner, which shall be released without reference to the pending disciplinary proceedings.

Detailed headnote1 paragraphs

Writ Petition 9067/2026 (High Court of Andhra Pradesh at Amaravati, Special Original Jurisdiction; Justice D Ramesh; 07.04.2026): Petitioner, a Goods and Service Tax Officer aged about 62 years, complained of the respondents' failure to conclude disciplinary proceedings initiated vide Rc.No.A1/4/2023, dated 18.03.2023, even after submission of the inquiry report dated 29.07.2024, terming the delay illegal, arbitrary and contrary to the A.P. Civil Services (Classification, Control and Appeal) Rules, 1991 and the A.P. Civil Services (Conduct) Rules, 1964. Without entering into the merits, the Court disposed of the petition, directing the respondents to conclude the disciplinary proceedings in terms of G.O.Ms.No.91, dated 12.09.2022, within one month, and to process and release the petitioner's retirement benefits without reference to the pending disciplinary proceedings. No order as to costs; pending Miscellaneous Petitions closed.

APHC010175042026

[3208]

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

TUESDAY,THE SEVENTH DAY OF APRIL TWO THOUSAND AND TWENTY SIX

PRESENT

THE HONOURABLE SRI JUSTICE D RAMESH

WRIT PETITION NO: 9067/2026

Between:

K.SRINIVASA RAO,, S/O GARUDACHALEM, AGED ABOUT 62 YEARS, OCC GOODS AND SERVICE TAX OFFICER, O/O ASSISTANT COMMISSIONER (ST), SAMARANGAM CHOWK CIRCLE, II DIVISION, VIJAYAWADA, DISTRICT, ANDHRA PRADESH.

...PETITIONER

AND

THE STATE OF ANDHRA PRADESH, REP. BY ITS PRINCIPAL SECRETARY, DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE (COMMERCIAL TAX DEPARTMENT) SECRETARIAT BUILDINGS, VELAGAPUDI VILLAGE, THULLURU MANDAL, AMARAVATI, GUNTUR DISTRICT, ANDHRA PRADESH- 522238.

THE CHIEF COMMISSIONER OF STATE TAX, KUNCHANAPALLI, GUNTUR DISTRICT, ANDHRA PRADESH - 522501.

THE JOINT COMMISSIONER OF STATE TAX, DIVISION-I, VIJAYAWADA, ANDHRA PRADESH -520002.

THE JOINT COMMISSIONER OF STATE TAX, DIVISION-I I, VIJAYAWADA, ANDHRA PRADESH -520002.

THE ASSISTANT COMMISSIONER ST, SAMARANGAM CHOWK CIRCLE, II DIVISION VIJAYAWADA, DISTRICT, ANDHRA PRADESH.

...RESPONDENT(S):

The Court made the following ORDER:

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

This Writ Petition is filed aggrieved by the action of the respondents in not concluding the disciplinary proceedings initiated against the petitioner vide Rc.No.A1/4/2023, dated 18.03.2023, even after submission of the inquiry report dated 29.07.2024 and despite lapse of considerable time, which is illegal, arbitrary, and contrary to the provisions of the A.P. Civil Services (Classification, Control and Appeal) Rules, 1991, and the A.P. Civil Services (Conduct) Rules, 1964.

Considering the same, without going into the merits of the case, in view of the fact that the inquiry has already been conducted and the report has been submitted to the disciplinary authority on 29.07.2024, this Court deems it appropriate to dispose of the writ petition with a direction to the respondents to conclude the disciplinary proceedings against the petitioner in terms of G.O.Ms.No.91, dated 12.09.2022, within a period of one (01) month from the date of receipt of a copy of this order. The respondents are further directed to process the retirement benefits due to the petitioner, which shall be released without reference to the pending disciplinary proceedings.

Accordingly the writ petition is disposed of. There shall be no order as to costs.

Consequently, Miscellaneous Petitions, if any, pending in the writ

petition shall stand closed.

________________________ JUSTICE D RAMESH

07.04.2026

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THE HONOURABLE SRI JUSTICE D RAMESH

WRIT PETITION NO: 9067/2026

07.04.2026 klk