APHC010566952025 IN THE HIGH COURT OF ANDHRA PRADESH AT AMARAVATI (Special Original Jurisdiction) [3460] TUESDAY,THE TWENTY EIGHTH DAY OF OCTOBER TWO THOUSAND AND TWENTY FIVE PRESENT THE HONOURABLE SRI JUSTICE NYAPATHY VIJAY WRIT PETITION NO: 29459/2025 Between: Y Sudhakar Reddy ...PETITIONER AND State Of Andhra Pradesh and Others ...RESPONDENT(S) Counsel for the Petitioner: 1. L CHANDRA OBUL REDDY Counsel for the Respondent(S): 1. GP FOR TRANSPORT The Court made the following: THE HONOURABLE SRI JUSTICE NYAPATHY VIJAY WRIT PETITION NO: 29459 OF 2025 ORDER:- The present Writ Petition is filed seeking to set aside the Proceedings dated 25.06.2025 issued vide G.O.Rt.No.315 and G.O.Rt.No.316 by the Respondent No.1 under Rule 20 of the Andhra Pradesh Civil Service(Conduct) Rules, 1964. 2. The facts leading to the filing of the writ petition are as follows: The Petitioner had retired from service on 31.07.2025. While so, on 25.06.2025, the impugned Proceedings were issued wherein the Article of Charge framed against the Petitioner was that the Petitioner had failed to exhibit the integrity and devotion to duty towards the supporting staff, i.e., AMVI, Sri MD Ismail Khan, Record Assistant, and Gowri Shankar, and had engaged the private agents/brokers to collect bribes from the citizens visiting the office for DLS and RCs, and an amount of Rs.51,160/- was found in possession of private agents. 3. Learned counsel for the Petitioner submits that the Petitioner is innocnent of the allegations and the Chartge Memorandum cannot be sustained and that he is not the head of the office and therefore, he is not responsible for the alleged acts committed by the subordinate staff. 4. Learned counsel would further submit that the head of the office at that relevant point of time was further promoted and that the Petitioner is made a scape goat of the allegations. 5. The alternative argument of the learned counself for the Petitioner is that the enquiry initiated against the Petitioner be concluded as expeditiously as possible in terms of G.O.Ms.No.91 General Administration (SER.C) Department dated 12.09.2022. 6. Learned Assistant Government Pleader submits that the allegations against the Petitioner are required to be enquired into and the merits of the allegations against the Petitioner cannot be examined at this stage. 7. Heard the respective counsel. 8. The alternative argument of the Petitioner deserves merit. 9. As per G.O.Ms.No.91 General Administration (SER.C) Department dated 12.09.2022, the Government had issued the comprehensive guidelines for conclusion of departmental proceedings and Clause 5 (ix) would be relevant for disposal of this case which reads as under: ‘ix. Government direct that in all simple cases the inquiry initiated against Government Servant shall be completed within three months either by Departmental Officers or Commissioner of Inquiries. In complicated cases, it shall be ensured that the inquiry should be completed within five to six months. The Secretaries to Government shall review the progress of the inquiries ordered in all disciplinary cases and submit a note on the cases pending beyond the stipulated time to Chief Secretary to Government and also the Chief Minister.’ 10. Taking note of the guidelines fixing a definite time frame for the conclusion of the Disciplinary Enquiries, the Writ Petition is disposed of with the following directions: (i) The Disciplinary Enquiry initiated against the Petitioner on 25.06.2025 by the Respondent No.1 shall be concluded within a period of Six (06) months from today. (ii) In the event, the enquiry is not concluded within a period of six months, the Respondent Authorities shall release the retirement benefits due to the Petitioner within a period of four weeks thereafter. (iii) There shall be no order as to costs. As a sequel, pending applications, if any, shall stand closed. __________________ NYAPATHY VIJAY, J Date: 28.10.2025 eha THE HONOURABLE SRI JUSTICE NYAPATHY VIJAY WRIT PETITION NO: 29459 OF 2025 Dt.28.10.2025 eha