APHC010531372026 IN THE HIGH COURT OF ANDHRA PRADESH AT AMARAVATI (Special Original Jurisdiction) [3460] THURSDAY, THE 8th DAY OF OCTOBER 2026 PRESENT THE HONOURABLE SRI JUSTICE NYAPATHY VIJAY WRIT PETITION NO: 28932/2026 Between: Pandipati Venkateswarlu ...PETITIONER AND The State Of Andhra Pradesh and Others ...RESPONDENT(S) Counsel for the Petitioner: 1. ANUP KOUSHIK KARAVADI Counsel for the Respondent(S): 1. GP FOR SERVICES I The Court made the following: 2 THE HONOURABLE SRI JUSTICE NYAPATHY VIJAY WRIT PETITION NO: 28932/2026 ORDER: The Writ Petition is filed questioning the action of the Respondent No.1 in issuing the Proceedings dated 25.09.2026 vide G.O.Rt.No.867 Health, Medical and Family Welfare (VC.I) Department, as illegal and arbitrary. 2. The facts leading to the filing of the present Writ Petition are as follows: A Departmental Enquiry was initiated against the Respondent No.3 vide G.O.Rt.No.736 HM & FW (VC.1) dated 20.09.2022. As the enquiry was not concluded in terms of G.O.Ms.No.91 GA (Ser.C) Department, dated 12.09.2022, the Respondent No.3 filed W.P.No.25292 of 2025 before this Court, and this Court disposed of the same, directing the respondent authorities to conclude the enquiry within a period of six months, apart from other directions, vide order dated 18.09.2025. Since the orders of this Court were not complied with, the petitioner filed C.C.No.844 of 2026. During the pendency of the Contempt Case, the departmental proceedings initiated against the petitioner were dropped vide proceedings dated 30.03.2026. Thereafter, the Respondent No.3 filed W.P.No.13084 of 2026 to consider his case for promotion to the post of Joint Director (Laboratory). This Court passed an interim order on 05.05.2026 directing the respondents therein to consider the representation of the Respondent No.3 dated 31.03.2026 for promotion and take an appropriate decision. 3. While so, the State Government issued G.O.Rt.No.625, dated 03.07.2026, keeping the proceedings dated 30.03.2026 regarding the dropping of charges framed against the petitioner vide G.O.Rt.No.284, dated 30.03.2026, in 3 abeyance. Thereafter, vide G.O.Rt.No.867 HM & FW (VC.I) Department, dated 25.09.2026, the Government issued orders keeping the dropping of the Charge Memorandum in abeyance were dropped and restoring the order of dropping the charges vide G.O.Rt.No.284, dated 30.03.2026. Consequent thereto, the contempt case and the writ petition were closed. 4. The Petitioner, who is junior to the Respondent No.3--against whom departmental proceedings were pending, filed the present Writ Petition questioning the reasons for dropping of charges by the Respondent No.1 against the Respondent No.3. 5. Heard the learned counsel. 6. The Petitioner is a third party to the disciplinary proceedings and cannot be said to have any locus standi to question the same. Departmental enquiries are bilateral in nature and the discretion to initiate or drop the proceedings is absolute and it is not for this Court or for a third party to dictate the steps to be taken by the disciplinary authority under the A.P. Civil Services (Classification, Control and Appeal) Rules, 1991, as to what course of action should be taken against an employee. Therefore, this Court does not find any merit to entertain the Writ Petition. 7. Accordingly, this Writ Petition is dismissed at the stage of admission. There shall be no order as to costs. As a sequel thereto, the miscellaneous petitions, if any, pending in this Petition shall stand closed. ________________________ JUSTICE NYAPATHY VIJAY Date : 08.10.2026 eha 4 THE HONOURABLE SRI JUSTICE NYAPATHY VIJAY WP No.28932 of 2026 Dt.08-10-2026 eha U