\ T APHC010329592025 IN THE HIGH COURT OF ANDHRA PRADESH AT AMARAVATI (Special Original Jurisdiction) i TUESDAY,THE EIGHTH DAY OF JULY TWO THOUSAND AND TWENTY FIVE PRESENT THE HONOURABLE SRI JUSTICE CHALLA GUNARANJAN WRIT PETITION NO: 16810 OF 2025 Between: A.Jayaram, S/o. Late Subbarayudu, Aged about 63 years, Occ: Retired Executive Officer, District Scheduled Castes Service Co-Op. Society Limited, Ananthapur, R/o. D.No.39/421-3, Road No. 10, Vivekananda Nagar, Kadapa, YSR Kadapa District, A.P. ...PETITIONER AND 1. The State of Andhra Pradesh, Rep. by its Principle Secretary, Social Welfare Department, Secretariat, Velagapudi, Amaravathi, Guntur District. 2. The Vice Chairman and Managing Director, Andhra Pradesh Scheduled Castes Co-operative Finance Corporation Limited, Tadepalli, Amaravathi. 3. The District Collector and Chairman, District Scheduled Castes Service Co-Op. Society Limited, Ananthapuramu. 4. The Executive Director, District Scheduled Castes Service Co-Op. Society Limited, Ananthapuramu. ...RESPONDENTS 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 f pleased to issue an appropriate Writ order or direction more particularly in ttig nature of Writ of Mandamus declare the action of the respondents •' especially and 2"^^ vide RC one respondents in not dropping the charge . memo - NO.A4/404/APSC/2017 dt. 11-06-2019 including the proceedings of the inquiry as highly arbitrary, illegal and violating the G.O.Ms.No.679 dt. 01-11-2008 Circular Memo No.10245/SER.C/A1/2010-1 dt.-7-02-2011, G.O.Ms.No.91 General Administration (Ser-C) Department dt. 12-09-2022 and Article 14, 21 of the Constitution of India and consequently direct the respondents 1 and 2 to drop the charge memo and to release the retirement benefits which are pending with an interest of 18% p.a. lA NO: 1 OF 2025 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 1 and 2 to drop the charge memo and to release the retirement benefits which are pending with an interest of 18% p.a. Counsel for the Petitioner: SRI M. KESAVA RAO Counsel for the Respondent No.1: GP FOR SERVICES II Counsel for the Respondent Nos.2 to 4: SRI GANDRALA RATHNA KUMAR, SC FOR APSCCFCL The Court made the following order: ■ APHC010329592025 IN THE HIGH COURT OF ANDHRA PRADESH AT AMARAVATI (Special Original Jurisdiction) [3506] TUESDAY, THE EIGHTH DAY OF JULY TWO THOUSAND AND TWENTY FIVE PRESENT THE HONOURABLE SRI JUSTICE CHALLA GUNARANJAN WRIT PETITION No.16810 of 2025 Between: 1.A.JAYARAM, S/0. LATE SUBBARAYUDU, AGED ABOUT 63 YEARS, OCC: RETIRED EXECUTIVE OFFICER, DISTRICT SCHEDULED CASTES LIMITED, ANANTHAPUR, R/0. D.No.39/421-3, ROAD NO. 10, VIVEKANANDA NAGAR, DISTRICT. A.P. SERVICE CO-OP. SOCIETY KADAPA, YSR KADAPA ...PETITIONER AND 1.THE STATE OF ANDHRA PRADESH, REP. BY ITS SECRETARY, PRINCIPAL DEPARTMENT, AMARAVATHI, GUNTUR DISTRICT. SOCIAL WELFARE SECRETARIAT, VELAGAPUDI, 2.THE VICE CHAIRMAN & MANAGING DIRECTOR, ANDHRA PRADESH SCHEDULED CASTES CO-OPERATIVE FINANCE CORPORATION LIMITED, TADEPALLI, AMARAVATHI. 3.THE DISTRICT COLLECTOR & CHAIRMAN, DISTRICT SCHEDULED CASTES SERVICE CO-OP. SOCIETY LIMITED, ANANTHAPURAMU. 4.THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, DISTRICT SCHEDULED CASTES SERVICE CO-OP. ANANTHAPURAMU. SOCIETY LIMITED, ...RESPONDENT(S); 2 CGR,J W.P.No.l6810of2025 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 an appropriate Writ order or direction more particularly one in the nature of Writ of Mandamus declaring the action of the respondents especially respondents in not dropping the charge No.A4/404/APSC/2017 dt.11-06-2019 including the proceedings of the inquiry as highly arbitrary, illegal and violating the G.O.Ms.No.679 dt.01-11-2008, Circular Memo No.10245/SER C/ A1/2010-1 dt.7-02-2011 and 2 memo vide RC nd G.O.Ms.No.91 General Administration (Ser-C) Department dt. 12-09-2022 and Article Constitution of India and consequently direct the respondents 1 and 2 to drop the charge memo and to release the retirement benefits which are pending with an interest of 18% p.a. and pass such other order or orders as are deem fit and proper in the circumstances of the case. 14, 21 of the Counsel for the Petitioner: 1.M KESAVA RAO Counsel for the Respondent(S); 1. GP FOR SERVICES II 2. GANDRALA RATHNA KUMAR, STANDING COUNSEL The Court made the following: 3 CGR.J W.P.No.16810 of 2025 ORD E R: Heard Sri M. Kesava Rao, learned counsel for petitioner, learned Government Pleader for Services-ll for respondent and Sri Gandrala Rathna Kumar, learned Standing Counsel for 2^^ respondent-corporation. Petitioner retired from service on 30.06.2022 as Executive Officer of 2'^^ respondent-corporation. While he was in service, based on certain allegations of misappropriation of funds etc., he was placed under suspension on 12.10.2018 and was issued charge memo on 11.06.2019, for which he submitted statement of defence. 2. refuting the charges levelled. Thereafter, the petitioner came to be reinstated into service and subsequently, retired from service on attaining the age of superannuation. However, disciplinary proceedings were proceeded with and inquiry officer came to be appointed, who, after conducting inquiry, submitted report holding that out of eight charges, four charges were proved, one charge was partially proved and remaining three charges were unproved. Now, the matter is stated to be pending with the disciplinary authority for taking final decision. Learned counsel for petitioner, by referring to G.O.Ms.No.679, General Administration (Services.C) Department, dated 01.11.2008, and G.O.Ms.No.91, General Administration (Service.C) Department, 3. 4 CGRJ W.P.No.l6810of2025 dated 12.09.2022, submits that the disciplinary proceedings are supposed to be concluded within three months in case of simple cases and six months in case of complex cases, and despite specific timelines prescribed therein, in the present case, the inquiry is not concluded even after completion of six years. Therefore, he would urge to quash the charge memo. Learned Assistant Government Pleader as well as learned 4. Standing Counsel for 2^^ respondent-Corporation, on the other hand, submit that the enquiry is almost at the verge of conclusion and as the matter is now seized of by the disciplinary authority, upon consideration of the inquiry report, final decision is to be taken. Therefore, they urge to grant reasonable time to conclude the disciplinary proceedings against petitioner. The charges levelled against the petitioner prima facie being severe in nature and include allegations of misappropriation of 5. funds, this Court is not inclined to enter into merits of the matter or to consider the aspect of delay in conclusion of inquiry for the purpose of quashing the charge memo. However, having regard to the fact that disciplinary proceedings have not been concluded even after more than six years of initiation of the same, it is apt to direct respondents to conclude the same within specific timeframe. 5 CGR.J W.P.No.l6810of2025 6. Accordingly, the Writ Petition is disposed of by directing respondents to conclude the disciplinary proceedings initiated against the petitioner in pursuance of charge memo dated 11.06.2019, within a period of two months from the date of receipt of copy of this order, after providing due opportunity to the petitioner. There shall be no order as to costs. As a sequel, miscellaneous petitions, pending if any, shall stand closed. Sd/- G. HELA NAIDU assistant registrar / //TRUE COPY// SECTION OFFICER To, 1. The Principle Secretary, Social Welfare Department, State of Andhra Pradesh, Secretariat, Velagapudi, Amaravathi, Guntur District. 2. Tfiq Vi^\^#airrhdn and Managing Director, Andhra Pradesh Scheduled Castes ■ 'Cd-tf(3ferati\/e Finance Corporation Limited, Tadepalli, Amaravathi. 3. The District Collector and Chairman, District Scheduled Castes Service Co-Op. Society Limited, Ananthapuramu. 4. The Executive Director, District Scheduled Castes Service Co-Op. Society Limited, Ananthapuramu. 5. One CC to Sri M. Kesava Rao, Advocate [OPUC] 6. One CC to Sri Gandrala Rathna Kumar, SC for APSCCFCL[OPUC] 7. Two CCs to GP for Services-ll, High Court of Andhra Pradesh [OUT] 8. Two CD Copies ssb . ’» HIGH COURT DATED:08/07/2025 ORDER WP NO. 16810 OF 2025 1 9 AU6 208 DISPOSING OF THE W.P. WITHOUT COSTS