% H IN THE HIGH COURT OF ANDHRA PRADESH :: AMARAVATI (Special Original Jurisdiction) MONDAY, THE TENTH DAY OF MARCH TWO THOUSAND AND TWENTY FIVE PRESENT HON’BLE SRI JUSTICE CHALLA GUNARANJAN WRIT PETITION NO: 5482 OF 2025 Between: K Ramanamma, W/o. K.Narasimhulu Aged about 43 years, Occ: Sangamithra R/o.Thuguvaripalli, Settivaripalli, Gurramkonda Annamayya District. ...PETITIONER AND 1. The State of Andhra Pradesh, rep. by its Principal Secretary, Panchyath Raj (Rural Development Agency) Department, Secretariat Buildings, Velagapudi, Amaravati, Guntur District. 2. The District Collector, Executive Chairman DRDA, Annamayya District, 3. The Project Director, DRDA, Velugu, Annamayya District 4. The Assistant Project Manger, Velugu, Mahila Mandal Samikya, Gurramkonda Mandal, Annamayya District 5. The Community, Co-Ordinator, Velugu, DRDA Office, Gurramkonda Mandal, Annamayya. District. 6. Settivaripalle Grama Samikhya Thrift and Credit Co-operative Society Ltd., Settivaripalli Village, Gurramkonda Mandal, Annamayya District. Rep., by its Secretary. ...RESPONDENTS Petition under Article 226 of the Constitution of India is filed 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 nature of Writ of Mandamus declaring the action of the action of the respondents No.4 and 5 in not allowing the petitioner to ,discharge her duties as Sangamitra/ (Village Organisation Assistant) and ; also forcing me to resign to the post of Sangamitra of Settivaripalle Grama Samikhya-I Thrift and Credit Co-operative Society Ltd. Settivaripalli Village, Gurramkonda Mandal, Annamayya District i.e., the respondent No.6 society, without assigning any reason whatsoever, as arbitrary, illegal, colorable exercise of power and contrary to the well established principles apart from being violative of the fundamental rights guaranteed to her under Articles 14, 19 and 21 of the Constitution of India and consequently direct the respondents No.4 and 5 to continue me in the post of Sangamithra of the respondent No.6 society. lA NO: 1 OF 2025 Petition under Section 151 CPC is filed 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 No.4 and 5 to allow the petitioner to discharge her duties as Sangamithra (Village Organization Assistant) of the respondent No.6 Society, pending disposal of the above Writ Petition. Counsel for the Petitioner: SRI D VIGNESHWAR REDDY Counsel for the Respondent Nos. 1 to 3: GP FOR SERVICES IV Counsel for the Respondent Nos. 4 to 6: SRI P HARI BABU The Court made the following: ORDER "f / - APHC010099812025 IN THE HIGH COURT OF ANDHRA PRADESH AT AMARAVATI (Special Original Jurisdiction) [3506] MONDAY ,THE TENTH DAY OF MARCH TWO THOUSAND AND TWENTY FIVE PRESENT THE HONOURABLE SRI JUSTICE CHALLA GUNARANJAN WRIT PETITION NO: 5482/2025 Between: K Ramanamma ...PETITIONER AND The State Of Andhra Pradesh and Others ...RESPONDENT(S) Counsel for the Petitioner: 1.D VIGNESHWAR REDDY Counsel for the Respondent(S): 1.GP FOR SERVICES IV The Court made the following: ORDER:- The present writ petition is filed questioning the action of the respondent Nos.4 and 5 in not allowing the petitioner to discharge her duties as Sangamitra/(Village Organisation Assistant) and also forcing her to resign to the post of Sangamitra of Settivaripalle Grama Samikhya-I Thrift and Credit Cooperative Society Limited, Settivaripalli Village, Gurramkonda Mandal, Annamayya District i.e., the respondent No.6 society, without assigning any reason whatsoever, as arbitrary, illegal, colorable exercise of power and contrary to the well-established principles apart from being violative of the fundamental rights guaranteed to her under Articles 14, 19 and 21 of the Constitution of India and consequently direct the respondents No.4 and 5 to continue her in the post of Sangamithra of the respondent No.6-Society. 2 Heard learned counsel for the petitioner and Sri M.Hari Babu, learned Standing Counsel for the respondent Nos.2 to 5. 2. Learned counsel for the petitioner submits that petitioner was selected as Sangamitra (VOA) of 6**^ respondent-Society in the year 2020 and since then has been discharging her duties. The General Body Meeting of 6^'^ respondent by resolution, dated 06.08.2024 continued the services of petitioner. Further by resolution, dated 19.02.2025, it was resolved that petitioner should be continued as VOA and that her performance from the last 5 years was satisfactory, inspite of the allegations made against her by Gram Panchayat, Secretary and others. As on today she continues to discharge her duties. Inspite of the same, the respondent Nos.4 and 5 are prohibiting the petitioner from discharging her duties as Sangamitra and forcing to resign, aggrieved by which, she filed present writ petition. 3. 4. On instructions, learned Standing Counsel for the respondent Nos. 2 to 5 submits that they are not interfering with activities of petitioner as SangamitraA/OA. A perusal of the circular would manifest that to alleviate poverty and for women empowerment, 27,841 societies were formed in terms of the provisions of A.P.Mutually Aided Co-operative Societies Act, 1995; that those societies are autonomous bodies; that selection, removal and duties of VOA etc., are within the purview of the members of the Society; that the duties and responsibilities of the Staff of the Village Organization are described in Section 25 of the Act; that the staff members of the Village Organization are answerable and accountable to the Village Organization and their appointment, removal and performance of duties, are as per the bye-laws, rules and regulations framed by the Executive Committee of the Village Organization. 5. 6. The said circular further prescribes that the staff of the CBO/Project should work for development and to achieve financial stability of the Village Organization and they should cooperate and facilitate for the development of the Village Organization and shall not influence or decisions of the society, (emphasis is mine) interfere with the circular further prescribes that the staff members of the Village 7. The Organization should not indulge in the decision making process and that the appointments, removal, duties and responsibilities of Sangamitrha/VOA/ be done by the Village Organization. As per the note in the Animator, are to circular, dated 29.08.2019, it was clarified that no the district level. Circular dated 29.08.2019, will be in force till another circular Other circulars be issued at is issued. Assistant Government Pleader for Services would submit that circular dated 29.08.2019 is in force as on today. 8. Learned aforementioned circular issued by the Principal Secretary interference of the officials with the decision making process of 9. Thus, the commands no society except to facilitate. The instructions submitted by learned Assistant Government pleader would manifest that the officials are not interfering. the and circumstances of the case coupled with the circular issued by Principal Secretary, SERP, this writ petition Given the facts 10. aforementioned is disposed of at the admission stage, with the consent of learned counsel on respondent Nos.4 and 5 not to interfere with the Sangamitra/(Village Organisation Assistant) either side, directing the petitioner’s discharging duties as of Settivaripalle Grama Limited, Setfivaripalli Village, Gurramkonda Mandal. Annamayya District. Samikhya-I Thrift and Credit Co-operative Society No costs. miscellaneous petitions, if any, pending shall stand closed. Sd/- N NAGAMMA ASSISTANT REGISTRAR As a sequel //TRUE COPY// SECTION OFFICER To 1 The Principal Secretary, Panchyath Raj (Rural Development Ag^ency) ■ Department, Secretariat Buildings, Velagapudi, Amaravati, Guntur District. r 2. The District Collector, Executive Chairman DRDA, Annamayya District, 3. The Project Director, DRDA, Velugu, Annamayya District 4 jhe Assistant Project Manger, Velugu, Mahila Mandal Samikya Gurramkonda Mandal, Annamayya District 5. The Community, Co-Ordinator, Velugu, DRDA Office, Gurramkonda Mandal, Annamayya. District. 6. The Secretary, Settivaripalle Grama Samikhya Thrift and Credit Co operative Society Ltd., Settivaripalli Village, Gurramkonda Mandal, Annamayya District. 7. One CC to Sri D Vigneshwar Reddy, Advocate [OPUC] 8. One CC to Sri P Haribabu, Advocate [OPUC] 9. Two CCs to GP for Services IV, High Court of Andhra Pradesh. [OUT] 10. Three CD Copies TF HIGH COURT DATED:10/03/2025 ORDER WP.No.5482 of 2025 'o' tg 2 1 MAR 2025 ^ Current Section . DISPOSING OF THE W.P. AT THE STAGE OF ADMISSION, WITHOUT COSTS