APHC010016742026 IN THE HIGH COURT OF ANDHRA PRADESH AT AMARAVATI (Special Original Jurisdiction) [3328] THURSDAY,THE EIGHTH DAY OF JANUARY TWO THOUSAND AND TWENTY SIX PRESENT THE HONOURABLE SRI JUSTICE GANNAMANENI RAMAKRISHNA PRASAD WRIT PETITION NO: 1027 OF 2026 Between: 1. K SUNDARA RAMA RAJU, S/O LATE SRI K. KRISHNAM RAJU, AGED ABOUT 66 YEARS, D.NO. 10-454, YENDADA VILLAGE, VISAKHAPATNAM RURAL MANDAL, VISAKHAPATNAM DISTRICT, ANDHRA PRADESH PIN CODE 530 045 ANOTHER 2. SMT. K. SAVITHRI,, W/O SRI K. SUNDARA RAMA RAJU, AGED ABOUT 60 YEARS, R/O D. NO. 10-454, YENDADA VILLAGE, VISAKHAPATNAM RURAL MANDAL, VISAKHAPATNAM DISTRICT, ANDHRA PRADESH PIN CODE 530 045 ...PETITIONER(S) AND 1. THE STATE OF AP, REP. BY ITS SECRETARY, TOURISM DEPARTMENT, SECRETARIAT, VELAGAPUDI, GUNTUR, DISTRICT, ANDHRA PRADESH PIN CODE 522 237 2. 2. THE DISTRICT COLLECTOR, VISAKHAPATNAM, VISAKHAPATNAM DISTRICT, ANDHRA PRADESH PIN CODE 530 002 3. 3. THE ANDHRA PRADESH TOURISM DEPARTMENT, REP. BY ITS DIRECTOR, VMRDA COMPLEX, SIRIPURAM, VISAKHAPATNAM, DISTRICT, ANDHRA PRADESH PIN CODE 530 002 4. 4. THE DISTRICT TOURISM OFFICER, REGIONAL TOURISM INFORMATION BUREAU (RTIB), VISAKHAPATNAM DISTRICT, ANDHRA PRADESH PIN CODE. 530 002 ...RESPONDENT(S): 2 Counsel for the Petitioner(S): 1. GIRI BABU MARTHI Counsel for the Respondent(S): 1. GP FOR TOURISM The Court made the following ORAL ORDER: Heard Sri Giri Babu Marthi, Ld. Counsel for the Writ Petitioners and Sri Abdul Rasheed, Ld. Asst. Government Pleader for Tourism and Sri T. Sanjeev Kumar, Ld. Asst. Government Pleader for Revenue. 2. Ld. Counsel for the Writ Petitioners has drawn the attention of this Court to the Order passed by the Ld. Single Judge of this Court dated 16.07.2025 in W.P.No. 8940 of 2017 (Ex.P.3). He has also drawn the attention of this Court to the Impugned Notice bearing Rc.No.04/DTO/ RTIB/VSP/ Rushikonda land/2026 dated 03.01.2026 (Ex.P.1). This Court has perused the said Notice. Ld. Counsel for the Writ Petitioners would submit that they have received the impugned Notice by Whatsapp message on the same date at 11.30 AM. Thereafter, the District Tourism Officer has deleted the same within three hours thereafter. 3. In any case, on perusal of the said impunged Notice dated 03.01.2026, it is noticed by this Court that the Writ Petitioners were directed to appear before the District Tourism Officer (Respondent No.4) along with necessary documents at 10.30 AM on 06.01.2026 i.e., within three days after the impugned Notice was sent to the Writ Petitioners. The last Paragraph of the Notice would also indicate that if the Writ Petitioners fail to attend the enquiry and also failed to produce the documentary evidence within three days of time, it will be construed that they have no valid claim and further action will be taken as per the Rules in force without any further Notice. 4. While this Court has passed the earlier order, way back on 16.07.2025 in W.P.No.8940 of 2025 (Ex.P.3), and after a gap of almost six (06) months, abruptly, the District Tourism Officer has issued this impugned 3 Notice dated 03.01.2026, giving only three days time and also threatening the Writ Petitioners that if they fail to appear on the said date, an adverse inference would be drawn. On the face of it, this Court is of the opinion that this is a gross violation of Principles of Natural Justice and is unsustainable in Law. Therefore, the impugned Notice bearing Rc.No.04/DTO/RTIB/VSP/ Rushikonda land/2026 dated 03.01.2026 (Ex.P.1) is liable to be set aside. 5. Ld. Counsel for the Writ Petitioners submits that the Writ Petitioners would be able to appear before the concerned Authority on 30.01.2026. In this view of the matter, the Writ Petitioners are directed to appear before the District Tourism Officer, RTIB, Visakhapatnam at 10.30 AM on 30.01.2026 with all the documents as indicated in the notice. Needless to state that the District Tourism Officer (Respondent No.4) shall adhere to the Principles of Natural Justice at every stage. 6. Accordingly, this Writ Petition stands allowed and the impugned Notice bearing Rc.No.04/DTO/RTIB/ VSP/Rushikonda land/2026 dated 03.01.2026 (Ex.P.1) issued by the District Tourism Officer (Respondent No.4) is set aside. No order as to costs. 7. Ld. Asst. Government Pleader for Tourism is directed to convey the gist of this Order to the concerned Respondents forthwith, for effective compliance. 8. Interlocutory Applications, if any, stand closed in terms of this order. _________________________________ GANNAMANENI RAMAKRISHNA PRASAD, J Dt: 08.01.2026 Note: Issue CC today B/o. Mnr 4 68 HON'BLE SRI JUSTICE GANNAMANENI RAMAKRISHNA PRASAD WRIT PETITION No.1027 OF 2026 Dt: 08.01.2026 Note: Issue CC today B/o.Mnr