APHC010055972026 IN THE HIGH COURT OF ANDHRA PRADESH AT AMARAVATI (Special Original Jurisdiction) [3208] TUESDAY,THE SEVENTEENTH DAY OF FEBRUARY TWO THOUSAND AND TWENTY SIX PRESENT THE HONOURABLE SRI JUSTICE D RAMESH WRIT PETITION NO: 3430/2026 Between: 1. PINNITI VENKATA RAMANA, S/O CHINNAPPLANAIDU, AGE 55 YEARS, WORKING AS ZONAL DEPUTY DIRECTOR, TOWN PLANNING, CRDA, AMARAVATI, IN THE CADRE OF DEPUTY DIRECTOR. ...PETITIONER AND 1. THE STATE OF ANDHRA PRADESH, REP. BY ITS PRINCIPAL SECRETARY, MUNICIPAL ADMINISTRATION AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT (VIG-I) DEPARTMENT, SECRETARIAT BUILDINGS, VELAGAPUDI, AMRAVATI, GUNTUR DISTRICT. 2. THE DIRECTORATE OF TOWN AND COUNTRY PLANNING, REPRESENTED BY ITS DIRECTOR, MUNICIPAL ADMINISTRATION AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT, GOVERNMENT OF ANDHRA PRADESH, MGM CAPITAL, GROUND FLOOR, NRI HOSPITAL, JUNCTION MANGALAGIRI, GUNTUR DISTRICT, AMRAVATI. ...RESPONDENT(S): The Court made the following ORDER: 1. This Writ Petition is filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India seeking the following relief: “to issue an appropriate writ, order or direction more particularly one in the nature in WRIT of MANDAMUS aggrieved by the action of the Respondents in not considering Petitioner's case for promotion to the post of Joint Director by ignoring his prescribed requisite qualifications for eligibility of promotion i.e Post Graduate Diploma in Town and Country Planning and required service in the cadre of Deputy Director and valid seniority as per AP Town Planning Service Rules in G.O.Ms No 197 MA and UD (B2) Department Dated 25.3.1992 and trying to deny the same which is highly illegal, unjust, arbitrary and contrary to law and violations of Principles of Natural Justice and contrary Articles 14, 16 and 21 of Constitution of India and consequently direct the Respondents to forthwith consider the Petitioner's case of promotion to the next level cadre post of Joint Director as per his prescribed requisite fulfilled criteria and as per the AP Town Planning Service Rules and as per law and to pass….” 2. Heard the learned counsel for the petitioner and the learned Government Pleader for the respondents. 3. The case of the petitioner is that he was initially appointed as Assistant Director in the Survey & Land Records Department in the erstwhile State of Andhra Pradesh and, upon bifurcation, was allotted to the State of Telangana, where he was promoted as Deputy Director in 2016. Subsequently, on his request for inter-State transfer, both the States accorded concurrence, and he was absorbed into the State of Andhra Pradesh vide G.O.Ms.No.119 dated 10.03.2019, and is presently working as Deputy Director in Town & Country Planning at APTIDCO, Vijayawada. The petitioner possesses the requisite qualifications, including B.E. (Civil Engineering), a Post Graduate Diploma in Town and Country Planning from Osmania University through distance education, and has passed the required departmental tests. He fulfills all eligibility criteria for promotion to the post of Joint Director under the relevant service rules, having completed nearly ten years of service in the cadre of Deputy Director and no pending disciplinary proceedings. It is further submitted that, despite being fully eligible and placed at Serial No.4 in the seniority list, the petitioner’s case is not being considered for promotion on untenable grounds, such as obtaining the diploma through distance education and his absorption from Telangana, which are not disqualifications under the rules. Although he has submitted several representations, the respondents have not considered them. Hence, the writ petition. 4. On the other hand, the learned Government Pleader for the respondents, on the basis of written instructions dated 17.02.2026 issued by the Director of Town and Country Planning, submitted that the candidature of individuals for promotion to the post of Joint Director of Town Planning will be processed by the Department by submitting the necessary proposals to the Departmental Promotion Committee (DPC) as and when promotions to the said post are taken up. It is further stated that such proposals will be examined by the DPC at the Government level, which will decide the eligibility or otherwise of the candidates for appointment to the post of Joint Director of Town Planning. 5. Considering the above, this Court is of the view that, in light of the instructions stating that the respondents will forward the proposals to the Departmental Promotion Committee (DPC) based on qualifications, the writ petition is disposed of with a direction to the respondents to consider the case of the petitioner for promotion, in accordance with his eligibility and qualifications, as and when promotions to the post of Joint Director of Town Planning are taken up. There shall be no order as to costs. Consequently, Miscellaneous Petitions, if any, pending in the writ petition shall stand closed. ________________________ JUSTICE D RAMESH 17.02.2026 klk 72 THE HONOURABLE SRI JUSTICE D RAMESH WRIT PETITION NO: 3430/2026 17.02.2026 klk