APHC010123622026 IN THE HIGH COURT OF ANDHRA PRADESH AT AMARAVATI (Special Original Jurisdiction) [3208] WEDNESDAY,THE ELEVENTH DAY OF MARCH TWO THOUSAND AND TWENTY SIX PRESENT THE HONOURABLE SRI JUSTICE D RAMESH WRIT PETITION NO: 6805/2026 Between: 1. MOHAMMAD AQHIL,, S/O MOHAMMAD ABDULLA, AGED ABOUT 29 YEARS WORKING AS VILLAGE REVENUE OFFICER (GR-LL), R/O. 1-22, MAZEED ROAD, NEAR ANDHRA BANK, PEDDA ONGOLE, KRISHNA-521245. ...PETITIONER AND 1. THE STATE OF ANDHRA PRADESH, THROUGH THE PRINCIPAL SECRETARY, DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE, SECRETARIAT, VELAGAPUDI, AMARAVATI GUNTUR DISTRICT-522238. 2. THE CHIEF COMMISSIONER OF LAND ADMINISTRATION, GOVERNMENT OF ANDHRA PRADESH, VIJAYAWADA, NTR DISTRICT 520011 3. THE DISTRICT COLLECTOR, KRISHNA DISTRICT. CHILAKALAPUDI, MACHILIPATNAM-521002. 4. THE DISTRICT COLLECTOR, N.T.R.DISTRICT, VIJAYAWADA- 520001. ...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 of Writ of MANDAMUS declaring the action of the respondents in showing the petitioner as Ineligible in the Final Seniority List of VROs (Gr-il) 2025-26 that was published dated 17.02.2026, as illegal and arbitrary, and set aside the same and consequently direct the Respondents to consider the case of the petitioner for promotion and all consequential service benefits in accordance with G.O.Ms. No.257 dated 10-06- 1999, and pass such….” 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 appointed as Village Revenue Officer (Gr-II) pursuant to regular selection and joined duty as per proceedings dated 26.11.2019. Subsequently, he was placed under suspension vide proceedings dated 05.08.2023 consequent to a trap conducted by the ACB authorities on 27.07.2023, and a charge sheet dated 30.06.2025 was filed alleging demand of bribe. The petitioner submits that he has filed his explanation denying the allegations. Though the petitioner was placed under suspension, he was later reinstated into service vide proceedings dated 18.01.2025. However, in the Final Seniority List of VROs (Gr-II) for the year 2025–26 dated 17.02.2026, the petitioner’s name was shown as “Ineligible” on the ground of pendency of the ACB case. Therefore, declaring the petitioner as ineligible solely on the ground of pendency of the case, without conviction or conclusion of departmental proceedings, is illegal and arbitrary, hence the writ petition. 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 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 11.03.2026 klk 54 THE HONOURABLE SRI JUSTICE D RAMESH WRIT PETITION NO: 6805/2026 11.03.2026 klk