::1:: APHC010114242026 IN THE HIGH COURT OF ANDHRA PRADESH AT AMARAVATI (Special Original Jurisdiction) [3208] MONDAY,THE SIXTEENTH DAY OF MARCH TWO THOUSAND AND TWENTY SIX PRESENT THE HONOURABLE SRI JUSTICE D RAMESH WRIT PETITION NO: 6310/2026 Between: 1. T MALLESWARA RAO, S/O. LATE NAGABHUSHANAM, AGED ABOUT 39 YEARS, OCC MRI O/O TAHSILDAR, BHEEMUNIPATNAM, NOW MRI O/O TAHSILDAR, BHEEMUNIPATNAM, VISAKHAPATNAM DISTRICT-531 136, A.P. ...PETITIONER AND 1. THE STATE OF AP, REP. BY ITS PRINCIPAL SECRETARY, REVENUE DEPARTMENT, SECRETARIAT, VELAGAPUDI, AMARAVATI, GUNTUR DISTRICT-522 237. 2. THE DISTRICT COLLECTOR, VISAKHAPATNAM DISTRICT, VISAKHAPATNAM-530 001, A.P., 3. THE TAHSILDAR, BHEMUNIPATNAM, VISAKHAPATNAM DISTRICT-531 163, A.P ...RESPONDENT(S): ::2:: This Court made the following ORDER: 1. This Writ Petition is filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India by the Petitioners for the following relief: “to issue a Writ or order or direction more particularly one in the nature of Writ of Mandamus declaring the action of the respondents in not regularizing the services of the petitioner in the cadre of Typist and not release the periodical increments, other benefits, despite of possessing technical qualifications such as Typewriting Higher grade telugu on the untenable grounds that the petitioner acquired the typewriting qualifications within prescribed period mentioned in his appointment order and belatedly acquired said qualification is as highly illegal, arbitrary, discriminatory and contrary to the Divisional Bench judgment of this Hon'ble Court in W.P.No. 11321/2019, dated 14-08-2019 in the same subject matter and contrary to various GOs issued by the Government and Consequently direct the respondents to regularize the services of the petitioner with effect from his date of joining into duty as Typist with all consequential benefits without taking account of passing Typewriting Qualifications beyond prescribed period and…” 2. Heard the learned counsel for the petitioner and the learned Government Pleader for the respondents. 3. The grievance of the petitioner is that, despite possessing the requisite technical qualification of Typewriting Higher Grade in Telugu, the respondents have neither regularized his services in the cadre of Typist nor released the periodical increments and other attendant benefits. The ::3:: respondents rejected his claim on the ground that he did not acquire the said qualification within the period prescribed in the appointment order and that it was obtained belatedly, which is illegal and arbitrary. Hence, the present writ petition. 4. A similar issue was considered by this Court in W.P. No.4222 of 2023, dated 18.06.2025, in Duvvi Vinay Satya Kumar and others vs. State of Andhra Pradesh and others, wherein this Court observed as under: (8) Thus, Govemment have noticed that there is a striking anomalous position with regard to regularization of the services of Junior Stenographers in the Government of Andhra Pradesh. Prior to 1987, the Junior Stenographers had to acquire a higher grade typewriting and higher grade qualification in shorthand in the period 1987-98 these qualifications were changed and the individuals were required to obtain Higher Grade in Typewriting and Higher Grade in Shorthand in Telugu. In the revised Andhra Pradesh Ministerial Service Rules, 1998 the rules were once again amended and now they are required to obtain Higher grade Typewriting and Shorthand in the "relevant language". 9. In view of the fact that some of the Junior Stenographers appointed between March 1987 and July 1998 were not qualified under the rules, it has been decided to relax the requirement of passing Telugu Typewriting Higher Grade and Telugu Shorthand Higher Grade for all those individuals. 10. Now, therefore, in exercise of the powers conferred under rule 31 of the A.P.State & Subordinate Service ::4:: Rules, 1996, the Governor of Andhra Pradesh hereby relaxes the rule 23 of the A.P.Ministerial Service Rules, 1966 in favour of Junior Stenographers who were appointed between 5.3.1987 and 14.7.1998 as to the requirement of passing Typewriting higher grade in Telugu and Shorthand higher grade in Telugu and their services shall be regularised with effect from the date of their appointment, provided that they have acquired the qualifications prescribed in the A.P.Ministerial Service Rules, 1998." 16. Above said G.O. recognizes two factors. One depicting lack of training institutes and the other which weighed Government to relax the requirement of passing Telugu Typewriting High Grade. The aforesaid relaxation letter continued yet again in G.O.Ms.No.68, dated 11.03.2010, followed by G.O.Ms.No.78, dated 25.03.2010. The sequence suggests that 1st respondent has consistently been relaxing the requirement of securing Typewriting either English or Telugu for the candidates appointed on compassionate ground. Petitioners after all now claim similar benefit of relaxation on par with the persons who were extended the same. 17. This Court finds that such request to be justified, particularly having regard to the fact that all petitioners have additional qualifications with background of specialized knowledge of operating computer systems, besides with their hard work and relentless efforts later acquired the said technical qualifications. The Division Bench of this Court clearly emphasized aforesaid aspects and emphatically weighed in favour of extending the benefit of relaxation. 18. In view of the same and for reasons stated above, these writ petitions are allowed by directing respondents to regularize services of petitioners from the date of their ::5:: respective appointments as Typists with all consequential benefits. No costs. 5. Inasmuch as the petitioner is similarly situated and entitled to the same benefit, this Court, following the above decision, deems it appropriate to grant similar relief. Accordingly, the writ petition is disposed of directing the respondents to regularize the services of the petitioner from the date of his appointment as Typist with all consequential benefits. There shall be no order as to costs. As a sequel, interlocutory applications if any pending, shall stand closed. ________________________ JUSTICE D. RAMESH Dt:16.03.2026 klk ::6:: THE HONOURABLE SRI JUSTICE D. RAMESH WRIT PETITION No.6310 of 2026 Dt:16.03.2026 klk 263 ::7::