APHC010004482022 IN THE HIGH COURT OF ANDHRA PRADESH WEDNESDAY, THE NINETEENTH DAY OF NOVEMBER TWO THOUSAND AND TWENTY FIVE THE HONOURABLE SRI JUSTICE TARLADA RAJASEKHAR RAO WRIT PETITION BETWEEN: 1. G.SUDHAKARA RAJU, S/o. VENKATA RAJU DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF AGRICULTURE O/o. COMMISSIONER AND DIRECTOR OF AGRICULUTURE, OLD MIRCHI YARD, GUNTUR DISTRICT. 2. G.VENKATESWARA RAO, S/o VEERAIAH DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF AGRICULTURE O/o. COMMISSIONER AND DIRECTOR OF AGRICULTURAL OLD MIRCHI YARD, GUNTUR DISTRICT 3. Z.VENKATESWARA RAO, S/o. NAGESWARA RAO DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF AGRICULTURE O/o. COMMISSIONER AND DIRECTOR OF AGRICULTURE OLD MIRCHI YARD GUNTUR DISTRICT PET PER C.O. DT 29.07.2025 VIDE IA NO.1/2025 IN WP(AT) NO.21/2022 4. B.ASWANI KUMAR, DEPUTY PROJECT DIRECTOR OF AGRICULTURE, AGRICULTURE TECHNOLOGY MANAGEMENT AGENCY (ATMA) O/o. DIRECTOR, ATMA, GUNTUR DISTRICT. 1. THE STATE OF ANDHRA PRADESH, REP BY SPECIAL CHIEF SECRETARY AGRICULTURAL AND CO DEPARTMENT SECRETARIAT BUILDINGS VELAGAPUDI, GUNTUR DISTRICT IN THE HIGH COURT OF ANDHRA PRADESH AT AMARAVATI (Special Original Jurisdiction) WEDNESDAY, THE NINETEENTH DAY OF NOVEMBER TWO THOUSAND AND TWENTY FIVE PRESENT THE HONOURABLE SRI JUSTICE TARLADA RAJASEKHAR RAO WRIT PETITION TRANSFERED FROM APAT No. 21/2022 G.SUDHAKARA RAJU, S/o. VENKATA RAJU DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF AGRICULTURE O/o. COMMISSIONER AND DIRECTOR OF AGRICULUTURE, OLD MIRCHI YARD, GUNTUR G.VENKATESWARA RAO, S/o VEERAIAH DEPUTY DIRECTOR AGRICULTURE O/o. COMMISSIONER AND DIRECTOR OF AGRICULTURAL OLD MIRCHI YARD, GUNTUR DISTRICT Z.VENKATESWARA RAO, S/o. NAGESWARA RAO DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF AGRICULTURE O/o. COMMISSIONER AND DIRECTOR OF AGRICULTURE OLD MIRCHI YARD GUNTUR DISTRICT PETITIONER NOS.2 AND 3 ARE WITHDRAWN AS PER C.O. DT 29.07.2025 VIDE IA NO.1/2025 IN WP(AT) B.ASWANI KUMAR, DEPUTY PROJECT DIRECTOR OF AGRICULTURE, AGRICULTURE TECHNOLOGY MANAGEMENT AGENCY (ATMA) O/o. DIRECTOR, ATMA, GUNTUR DISTRICT. ...PET AND THE STATE OF ANDHRA PRADESH, REP BY SPECIAL CHIEF SECRETARY AGRICULTURAL AND CO-OPERATION DEPARTMENT SECRETARIAT BUILDINGS VELAGAPUDI, GUNTUR DISTRICT IN THE HIGH COURT OF ANDHRA PRADESH [3330] WEDNESDAY, THE NINETEENTH DAY OF NOVEMBER THE HONOURABLE SRI JUSTICE TARLADA RAJASEKHAR RAO TRANSFERED FROM APAT No. 21/2022 G.SUDHAKARA RAJU, S/o. VENKATA RAJU DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF AGRICULTURE O/o. COMMISSIONER AND DIRECTOR OF AGRICULUTURE, OLD MIRCHI YARD, GUNTUR G.VENKATESWARA RAO, S/o VEERAIAH DEPUTY DIRECTOR AGRICULTURE O/o. COMMISSIONER AND DIRECTOR OF AGRICULTURAL OLD MIRCHI YARD, GUNTUR DISTRICT Z.VENKATESWARA RAO, S/o. NAGESWARA RAO DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF AGRICULTURE O/o. COMMISSIONER AND DIRECTOR OF AGRICULTURE OLD MIRCHI YARD GUNTUR ITIONER NOS.2 AND 3 ARE WITHDRAWN AS PER C.O. DT 29.07.2025 VIDE IA NO.1/2025 IN WP(AT) B.ASWANI KUMAR, DEPUTY PROJECT DIRECTOR OF AGRICULTURE, AGRICULTURE TECHNOLOGY MANAGEMENT AGENCY (ATMA) O/o. DIRECTOR, ATMA, GUNTUR DISTRICT. ...PETITIONER(S) THE STATE OF ANDHRA PRADESH, REP BY SPECIAL CHIEF OPERATION DEPARTMENT SECRETARIAT BUILDINGS VELAGAPUDI, 2 2. THE SPECIAL COMMISSIONER, O/O COMMISSIONER AND DIRECTOR OF AGRICULTURE OLD MIRCHI YARD, GUNTUR DISTRICT 3. B PRASAD, FATHER'S NAME AND AGE NOT KNOWN TO THE APPLICANTS PROJECT DIRECTOR, KRISHNA DISTRICT AGRICULTURE TECHNOLOGY MANAGEMENT AGENCY (ATMA) O/O PROJECT DIRECTOR ATMA VIJAYAWADA KRISHNA DISTRICT 4. G LAKSHMAN KUMAR, FATHER'S NAME AND AGE NOT KNOWN TO THE APPLICANTS DEPUTY PROJECT DIRECTOR, AGRICULTURAL TECHNOLOGY MANAGEMENT AGENCY (ATMA) O/O DIRECTOR ATMA GUNTUR DISTRICT 5. G RAVINDRA BABU, FATHER'S NAME AND AGE NOT KNOWN TO THE APPLICANTS DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF AGRICULTURE O/o. COMMISSIONER AND DIRECTOR OF AGRICULTURE OLD MIRCHI YARD GUNTUR DISTRICT ...RESPONDENT(S): To declare the action of the official Respondents in issuing Memo No.11237/agri.I(2)/2015 dated 23-12-2016 according permission to the Director of Agriculture to review/revise the panels for the panel years 2003-2004, 2004.2005 and 2005-2006 prepared in the category of Assistant Director of Agriculture Memo No.A1(2)/668/2015 dated -2- 2017 in according notional promotion in the category of Assistant Director of Agriculture to unofficial Respondent Nos.4 and 5 and also issuing G.O.Ms.No.91, Agriculture and Co-operation (Agrl.I) Department dated 12-12-2017 by reviewing the panels for the years 2010-2011 and 2011-2012 prepared in the category of Deputy Director of Agriculture and altering the roaster points after a lapse of more than 12 years in the category of Assistant Director of Agriculture and altering the roaster points after a lapse of more than 7 years in the category of Deputy Director of Agriculture and Deputy Director of Agriculture and effecting promotions without finalizing the seniority in the above cadres and placing the unofficial respondent Nos.4 and 5 over and above the applicant in cadre of Assistant Director and Deputy Director is wholly illegal, arbitrary and violative of Articles 14 and 16 of the Constitution of 3 India and consequently declare that the applicants are entitled for fixation of their seniority basing on their selection and initial appointment and date of joining in the promotion post and further declare that the official respondent are not entitled to review/revise the panels and altering the roaster points which were fixed long back and pass such other order or orders… Counsel for the Petitioner(S): 1. ADAPA RAMYA SAHITHI NAIDU 2. KIRTHI TEJA KONDAVEETI Counsel for the Respondent(S): 1. M KESAVA RAO 2. C SRINIVASA BABA 3. GP FOR SERVICES II The Court made the following: 4 ORDER: The Writ Petition W.P. (AT) No.21 of 2022 originates from O.A. No.178 of 2019 filed before the Andhra Pradesh Administrative Tribunal. Petitioners/applicants questioned the notional promotion given to unofficial respondent Nos. 4 and 5 i.e. Sri G. Ravindra Babu, and Sri G. Lakshmana Kumar, in the cadre of Assistant Directors, vide G.O.Ms.No.91, Agriculture and Cooperation (AGRI.I) Department, dated 12.12.2017 for reviewing the panels for the years 2010-2011 and 2011- 2012 prepared in the category of Deputy Director of Agriculture altering the roster points after lapse of 12 years in the category of Assistant Director of Agriculture and altering the roster points after a lapse of more than 7 years in the category of Deputy Director of Agriculture and not finalising the seniority lists in the cadres of Agriculture Officer, Assistant Director of Agriculture and Deputy Director of Agriculture without finalising the seniority list. 2. The Tribunal initially granted status quo on February 14, 2019, which remained in effect. Out of the four petitioners/applicants two were superannuated and two petitioners/applicants have withdrawn the W.P. (AT) No.21 of 2022. 3. Now, the respondent No.1 has issued G.O.Ms.No.32, Agriculture & Cooperation (AGri.I) Department, dated 31.07.2025 which approves 5 the recommendation of the Departmental Promotion Committee to implement ad-hoc promotions to the category of Joint Directors of Agriculture for the panel year 2024 - 2025 from the panel of Deputy Directors of Agriculture. 4. The said G.O. states that the unofficial respondents Sri G. Lakshmana Kumar and Sri G. Ravindra Babu, are eligible for promotion to the position of Joint Director of Agriculture for the panel year 2024-2025. Respondent No. 1 is unable to promote unofficial respondent Nos.4 and 5 due to a status quo order that is obviating further action as the matter is pending before this Court. 5. The learned counsels appearing for the respondent Nos. 4 and 5 would request this Court to direct the respondents to give promotion subject to the result of the writ petition. Learned Senior Counsel Sri Kondaveeti Ravi Teja objected for such direction. 6. The learned Designated Senior Counsel Sri Ravi Kondaveeti assisted by Sri Kirthi Teja Kondaveeti appearing for the petitioners suggested that the case of the petitioners will also be considered along with the respondent Nos. 4 and 5 according to the seniority list so prepared. 7. After considering the submissions made by learned counsel for the parties, I am of the opinion that interest of justice would be served in 6 disposing of this writ petition by providing that the respondents shall consider the case of the unofficial respondents as well as petitioners’ notional promotion as they have already superannuated, in accordance with law as per their eligibility for such consideration. 8. It is made clear that this Court has not adjudicated the case on merits and the Writ Petition is disposed of with the consent of learned counsels for petitioners, official and unofficial respondents and it shall be open for the authorities to do so as per law. 9. Accordingly, W.P.(A.T.) No.21 OF 2022 stands disposed of. However, no order as to costs. As a sequel, interlocutory applications, if any pending in this Writ Petition shall stand closed. ___________________________________ JUSTICE TARLADA RAJASEKHAR RAO Date: 19.11.2025 Harin 7 118 THE HON’BLE SRI JUSTICE T ARLADA RAJASEKHAR RAO W.P. (AT) No. 21 OF 2022 Date: 19.11.2025 Harin