APHC010089742026 IN THE HIGH COURT OF ANDHRA PRADESH AT AMARAVATI (Special Original Jurisdiction) [3208] FRIDAY,THE TWENTIETH DAY OF FEBRUARY TWO THOUSAND AND TWENTY SIX PRESENT THE HONOURABLE SRI JUSTICE D RAMESH WRIT PETITION NO: 5019/2026 Between: 1. PONNADA AMMAJI RAO,, S/O BHADRACHALAM, AGE 62 YEARS, PRESENTLY WORKING AS AN ASSISTANT TOWN PLANNING OFFICER, AT VMRDA, VISAKHAPATNAM IN THE CADRE OF ASSISTANT DIRECTOR/ ASSISTANT CITY PLANNER ...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 Respondent in not considering Petitioner's case for promotion for the post of Deputy Director/ Deputy City Planner at 2nd Respondent Directorate of Town and Country Planning 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 2nd Respondent to forthwith consider Petitioner's case for promotion to next level cadre post of Deputy Director/ Deputy City Planner as per GO Ms No 257 General Administration (SER.C) Director Dated 10.6.1999 and as per law without referring the pending Departmental proceedings vide Charge Memo No. 4195/2022/M 1(1793861), dated 28.09.2022 of 2nd Respondent…” 2. Heard the learned counsel for the petitioner and the learned Government Pleader for the respondents. 3. The case of the petitioner is that the respondent authorities have not considered the case of the petitioner for promotion to the post of Deputy Director/Deputy City Planner in the 2nd respondent Directorate of Town and Country Planning, in accordance with G.O.Ms.No.257, General Administration (Ser.C) Department, dated 10.06.1999, and in accordance with law, without reference to the pending departmental proceedings initiated vide Charge Memo No.4195/2022/M1 (1793861), dated 28.09.2022, issued by the 2nd respondent, which is illegal and arbitrary. 4. At the time of hearing, the learned counsel for the petitioner confined his submissions to a limited prayer, seeking a direction to the respondents to consider the case of the petitioner for promotion in terms of G.O.Ms.No.257, General Administration (Ser.C) Department, dated 10.06.1999. 5. The learned Government Pleader appearing for the respondents, on instructions, submitted that the respondents would consider the case of the petitioner, if he falls within the zone of consideration, subject to his fulfilling all the conditions prescribed under the said G.O. 6. Given the facts and circumstances of the case, and without going into the merits of the matter, the Writ Petition is disposed of at the stage of admission with the consent of both the learned counsel, directing the respondents to consider the case of the petitioner for promotion to the post of Deputy Director/ Deputy City Planner strictly in accordance with G.O.Ms.No.257, General Administration (Ser.C) Department, dated 10.06.1999, if the petitioner is within the zone of consideration, whenever the DPC is conducted. There shall be no order as to costs. Consequently, Miscellaneous Petitions, if any, pending in the writ petition shall stand closed. ________________________ JUSTICE D RAMESH 20.02.2026 klk 15 THE HONOURABLE SRI JUSTICE D RAMESH WRIT PETITION NO: 5019/2026 20.02.2026 klk