APHC010536702026 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: 29185/2026 Between: 1. PALNATI CHENNAKESAVULU, S/O PEDDA SAMBAIAH, AGED 35 YEARS, OCC FIELD ASSISTANT, R/O TRIPURAPURAM GRAM PANCHAYAT, NAKARIKALLU MANDAL, PALNADU DISTRICT, (ERSTWHILE GUNTUR DISTRICT). ...PETITIONER AND 1. THE STATE OF ANDHRA PRADESH, REP. BY ITS PRINCIPAL SECRETARY TO GOVERNMENT, PANCHAYAT RAJ AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT, SECRETARIAT, VELAGAPUDI, AMARAVATI, GUNTUR DISTRICT.522 238 2. PROJECT DIRECTORCUMADDITIONAL DISTRICT PROGRAMME COORDINATOR OF MGNREGS, DISTRICT WATER MANAGEMENT AGENCY, NARASARAOPETA, PALNADU DISTRICT - 522601. 3. MANDAL PARISHAD DEVELOPMENT OFFICERCUM PROGRAMME OFFICER OF MGNREGS, MANDAL PRAJA PARISHAD, NAKARIKALLU MANDAL, PALNADU DISTRICT - 522615. 4. ADDITIONAL PROGRAMME OFFICER APO, MGNREGS, O/O MANDAL PARISHAD DEVELOPMENT OFFICER, MANDAL PRAJA PARISHAD, NAKARIKALLU MANDAL, PALNADU DISTRICT 522615 2 ...RESPONDENT(S): Petition under Article 226 of the Constitution of India praying that in the circumstances stated in the affidavit filed therewith, the High Court may be pleased toissue a writ, order or direction more particularly one in the nature of WRIT OF MANDAMUS declaring the inaction of the 2 nd respondent on petitioner's representation dt. 03.06.2026 submitted by requesting him not to accept his resignation letter dt. 04.05.2026 submitted by him due to local village political pressure and requested to continue him as Field Assistant working in Tripurapuram Gram Panchayat of Nakarikallu Mandal in Palnadu District (Erstwhile Guntur District), as illegal, arbitrary, violative of the principles of natural justice and offends Articles 14 and 21 of Constitution of India and consequently direct the respondents 2 to 4 to continue and allow the petitioner to discharge his duties as field assistant working in Tripurapuram Gram Panchayat of Nakarikallu Mandal in Palnadu District (Erstwhile Guntur District IA NO: 1 OF 2026 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 direct the respondents 2 to 4 to continue and allow the petitioner to discharge his duties as field assistant working in Tripurapuram Gram Panchayat of Nakarikallu Mandal in Palnadu District (Erstwhile Guntur District), pending disposal of the main Writ Petition Counsel for the Petitioner: 1. SRINIVAS AMBATI Counsel for the Respondent(S): 1. GP FOR SERVICES III The Court made the following: 3 THE HONOURABLE SRI JUSTICE NYAPATHY VIJAY WRIT PETITION No.29185 of 2026 ORDER: 1. The present Writ Petition is filed questioning the inaction of Respondent No.2 with respect to the representation, dated 03.06.2026 submitted by the Petitioner, requesting not to accept his resignation letter, dated 04.05.2026 and to continue him as Field Assistant in Tripurapuram Gram Panchayat of Nakarikallu Mandal in Palnadu District, as illegal and arbitrary. 2. The Petitioner was initially appointed as Field Assistant in the year 2021 in Tripurapuram Gram Panchayat of Nakarikallu Mandal in Palnadu District and has been discharging his duties to the utmost satisfaction of his superiors. While so, on account of changed circumstances, the Petitioner and others were not permitted to discharge their duties. Consequent thereto, the Petitioner, along with other Field Assistants, filed W.P.No.3253 of 2025 before this Court, seeking a direction to the Respondent-Authorities therein not to interfere with their discharge of duties. The said Writ Petition was disposed of on 12.02.2025 by this Court, directing Respondent Nos.4 4 and 5 therein not to interfere with the Petitioners discharging their duties without following due process of law. 3. While so, Respondent No.2 issued proceedings on 08.05.2025, cancelling the contract of employment of the Petitioner as Field Assistant on the ground that the Petitioner failed to achieve the target of providing 7,500 working days for the financial year 2024–2025, without issuing any show-cause notice. Consequent thereto, the Petitioner, along with another Field Assistant, filed W.P.No.15820 of 2025 before this Court, and this Court allowed the said Writ Petition vide its orders dated 02.07.2025, setting aside the order of termination of contract. 4. While so, the Petitioner, on account of local issues, submitted his resignation on 04.05.2026 from the post of Field Assistant. Thereafter, on the advice of the villagers, the Petitioner submitted a representation on 03.06.2026, requesting that his resignation letter dated 04.05.2026 not to be accepted. As the same is not being considered, the present Writ Petition is filed. 5. Sri M.S.R. Chandra Murthy, learned Standing Counsel for MGNREGS, submitted that the resignation of the Petitioner was accepted on 18.05.2026 and that an enquiry was ordered into the 5 pressure put on the Petitioner to make him resign from his service as Field Assistant. It was further submitted that the enquiry is ongoing. 6. Heard Sri Srinivas Ambati, learned counsel for the Petitioner as well as Sri M.S.R. Chandra Murthy, learned Standing Counsel for MGNREGS. 7. The Petitioner had attended to his duties as Field Assistant from the year 2021 onwards without any allegations regarding his integrity in discharging his duties. Though the Respondent-Authorities accepted the resignation given by the Petitioner on 18.05.2026, considering the circumstances, it cannot be a bar for the Respondent-Authorities to reconsider the same in the light of the representation given by the Petitioner seeking his re-engagement as Field Assistant. Therefore, with the consent of learned counsel appearing on both sides, this Writ Petition is disposed of at the admission stage, with the following directions:- (i) The Respondent-Authorities are directed to consider the plea of the Petitioner to reengage him as Field Assistant or any other appropriate post, as expeditiously as possible. 8. No order as to costs. 6 9. As a sequel, miscellaneous petitions, pending if any, shall stand closed. ________________________ JUSTICE NYAPATHY VIJAY Date: 08.10.2026 chs 7 THE HONOURABLE SRI JUSTICE NYAPATHY VIJAY 222 WRIT PETITION No.29185 of 2026 Dated: 08.10.2026 chs