IN THE HIGH COURT OF ANDHRA PRADESH :: AMARAVATI (Special Original Jurisdiction) WEDNESDAY, THE TWELFTH DAY OF FEBRUARY TWO THOUSANDAND TWENTY FIVE PRESENT HONOURABLE THE CHIEF JUSTICE SRI DHIRAJ SINGH THAKUR rr A 7^ AND HONOURABLE SRI JUSTICE RAVI CHEEMALAPATI WP(PIL) NO: 32 OF 2025 Between; Medikonda George, S/o. Arogyam, Aged 57 years, Occ: Retd. RTC Employee, R/o. 5*'^ line, Santhinagar, Pernamitta Village and Post, Santhanuthalapadu Mandal, Prakasam District. ... PETITIONER AND 1. The Andhra Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation, (APSRTC), Represented by its Vice-Chairman and Managing Director, Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh. 2. The State of Andhra Pradesh, Represented by its Principal Secretary, Transport, Roads and Buildings Department, Secretariat Buildings at Veiagapudi, Amaravati, Guntur District. 3. The Regional Manager, Andhra Pradesh Road Transport Corporation (APSRTC), Ongole, Prakasam District. 4. The District Public Transport Officer, Prakasam District, Ongole. 5. The Depot Manager, APSRTC, Podili Depot, Podili, Prakasam District. 6. Sri Bammidi Sudhakar, District Public Transport Officer, APSRTC (APPTD), Praksam District, Ongole- 523002. 7. Sri Jukuntia Sundara Rao, Depot Manager, APSRTC, Podili Depot, Prakasam District, R/o H.No. 10-203/9D, Jawaharial Nagar Colony, 10th Ward, College Road, Markapuram,Prakasam District. ... RESPONDENTS % Petition under Article 226 of the Constitution of India praying that in th&^jrcumstances stated in the affidavit filed therewith, the High Court may to issue a writ, order or direction more particularly one in the A*--' Ip “• nature of writ of mandamus declaring the action of Respondent Nos. 1 & 2 in , not conducting an enquiry not initiating departmental/discipli nary " proceedings against Respondent Nos.6 and 7 for abuse of official position, financial irregularities, misappropriations committed by them, despite several representations addressed by the petitioner and other such employees of APSRTC, as illegal, arbitrary, unjust, unconstitutional, violative of Article 14, 16 and 21 of the Constitution of India, Consequentially direct Respondent Nos.1 & 2 to conduct a departmental enquiry, initiate disciplinary/departmental proceedings against Respondent Nos.6 & 7 for t: \ \ ;■ abuse of official position, financial irregularities and misappropriations committed by them. 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 Respondent Nos.1 & 2 to conduct departmental enquiry, initiate departmental proceedings against Respondent Nos.6 &. 7 and withhold their retirement & other such consequential benefits attached to their service, till completion such of departmental enquiry, pending disposal of the above writ petition. Counsel for the Petitioner: SRI DODDAKA HARSHA VARDHAN ^ Counsel for the Respondent Nos.1,3 & 5:SRI S. VENKATESWARLU, SC FOR APSRTC Counsel for the Respondent Nos.2 & 4: GP FOR TRANSPORT Counsel for the Respondent Nos.6 & 7:-- f The Court made the following: ORDER APHC010069112025 Bench Sr.No:-7 [3483] IN THE HIGH COURT OF ANDHRA PRADESH AT AMARAVATI WP(PIL) NO: 32 of 2025 Medikonda George ...Petitioner Vs. The Andhra Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation and others ...Respondents ********** Advocate for petitioner Advocate for respondents Sri Doddaka Harsha Vardhan Learned Government Pleader for Transport CORAM :THE CHIEF JUSTICE DHIRAJ SINGH THAKUR SRI JUSTICE RAVI CHEEMALAPATI DATE : 12th February 2025 PC : The only issue that has been highlighted in the present Public Interest Litigation is with regard to the practice adopted by Andhra Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation (A.P.S.R.T.C.) in permitting Mechanics to drive the buses in the absence of qualified Drivers. 2. It is stated that in some occasions, Mechanics, who do not possess Heavy Vehicle Driving License and lack the basic skill to drive bus, are made to run bus service, which puts at risk the safety of the passengerswho board those buses. One such instance is reported when one Mr. B. V. B. N. Krishna, who is stated to be a Mechanic, was directed to drive a bus from 2 Podili to Vijayawada on 22.05.2023, which factum is stated to be admitted by the A.P.S.R.T.C. authorities in their response when R.T.I. query was sought by the petitioner. The petitioner alleges that it was respondent No.7, who was the Depot 3. Manager responsible for making such an arrangement, which could be prevented in future. 4. Other allegations raised in the petition against respondent No.7 with regard to abuse of his official position, however, are not pressed. 5. We dispose of this petition with liberty to the petitioner to file a representation, which will be considered by the Chairman of A.P.S.R.T.C. and appropriate orders be passed. No order as to costs. Pending miscellaneous applications, if any, shall stand closed. Sd/- M PRABHAKAR RAO ASSISTANT REGISTRAR- //TRUE COPY// SEenON OFFICER To, 1. The Vice-Chairman and Managing Director, Andhra Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation, (APSRTC), Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh 2. The Principal Secretary, Transport, Roads and Buildings Department, State of Andhra Pradesh, Secretariat Buildings at Veiagapudi Amaravati, Guntur District. 3. The Regional Manager, Andhra Pradesh Road Transport Corporation (APSRTC), Ongole, Prakasam District. 4. The District Public Transport Officer, Prakasam District, Ongole 5. The Depot Manager, APSRTC, Podili Depot, Podili, Prakasam District. 6. One CC to Sri Doddaka Harsha Vardhan, Advocate [OPUC] 7. One CC to Sri S. Venkateswarlu, SC for APSRTC [OPUC] 8. Two CC’s to GP for Transport, High Court of A.P. at AmaravatifOUT] 9. Three CD Copies. ssb HIGH COURT DATED: 12/02/2025 ORDER AND/y^ g 0 5 MAK 2025 ov WP(PIL).No.32 of 2025 m o», . Current oectton ^ DISPOSING OF THE W.P.(PIL) WITHOUT COSTS