APHC010001362026 IN THE HIGH COURT OF ANDHRA PRADESH AT AMARAVATI (Special Original Jurisdiction) [3333] WEDNESDAY,THE SIXTH DAY OF MAY TWO THOUSAND AND TWENTY SIX PRESENT THE HONOURABLE SMT JUSTICE V.SUJATHA WRIT PETITION NO: 513/2026 Between: 1. A S T BABU, , S/O GOPALAM AGED ABOUT 59 YEARS, OCC. CONDUCTOR E 472094 PARVATHIPURAM DEPOT, APSRTC, R/O CHINNAGONDAPALLY VILLAGE, PARVATIPURAM M VIZIANAGARAM DISTRICT. ...PETITIONER AND 1. THE DEPOT MANAGER, A P S R T C PARVATIPURAM DEPOT, VIZIANAGARAM DISTRICT 2. THE DEPUTY CHIEF TRAFFIC MANAGER, A P S R T C VIZIANAGARAM, VIZIANAGARAM DISTRICT 3. THE REGIONAL MANAGERDPTO, N E C REGION A P S R T C, VIZIANAGARAM DISTRICT 4. THE ANDHRA PRADESH STATE ROAD TRANSPORT CORPORATION, REP. BY ITS MANAGING DIRECTOR CUM VICE- CHAIRMAN, PANDIT NEHRU BUS STATION, VIJAYAWADA. 5. THE STATE OF ANDHRA PRADESH, REP. BY ITS PRINCIPAL SECRETARY, TRANSPORT AND ROADS AND BUILDING DEPARTMENT, VELAGAPUDI, AMARAVATHI, GUNTUR DISTRICT ...RESPONDENT(S): Petition under Article 226 of the Constitution of India praying that in the circumstances stated in the affidavit filed therewith, the High Court may be 2 VS,J W.P.No.513 of 2026 pleased to issue writ or order more in the nature of writ of Mandamus declaring the impugned A.P.S.T.C.No. Supdt.(P)/W.P.No. 26886/2025-PPM, dated 20- 11-2025 issued by the 1St respondent as being illegal, arbitrary, unjust, malafide, non-application of mind, contrary to the rules and consequently set-aside the same and hold that the petitioner is entitled for re- fixation of his pay after duly releasing his withheld increments consequent on modifying the punishment to that of reduction of two annual increments for a period of (2) years without cumulative effect in the Judgment dated 19-2-2024 in W.P.No. 24986 of 2014 with all consequential benefits including release of difference of pay and allowances based on the re- fixation of pay and pass IA NO: 1 OF 2026 Petition under Section 151 CPC praying that in the circumstances stated in the affidavit filed in support of the petition, the High Court may be pleased to suspend the operation of the impugned A.P.S.T.C.No. Supdt.(P)/W.P.No. 26886/2025-PPM, dated 20-11-2025 issued by the 1 St respondent and direct the respondents to re-fix the pay of the petitioner by duly releasing the withheld increments of the petitioner, and pass Counsel for the Petitioner: 1. PAMARTHI KAMESWARA RAO Counsel for the Respondent(S): 1. K SRINIVASA PRASAD SC For APSRTC 2. GP FOR SERVICES II The Court made the following: 3 VS,J W.P.No.513 of 2026 THE HON’BLE SMT. JUSTICE V.SUJATHA Writ Petition No: 513 of 2026 ORDER: The present Writ Petition came to be filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India seeking the following relief: “…to issue a writ or order more in the nature of writ of Mandamus declaring the impugned APSTC. No. Supdt.(P)/W.P.No.26886/2025- PPM, dated 20.11.2025 issued by the 1st respondent as being illegal, arbitrary, unjust, malafide, non-application of mind, contrary to the rules and consequently set aside the same and hold that the petitioner is entitled for re-fixation of his pay after duly releasing his withheld increments consequent on modifying the punishment to that of reduction of two annual increments for a period of two years without cumulative effect in the judgment dated 19.02.2024 in W.P.No.24986 of 2014 with all consequential benefits including release of difference of pay and allowances based on the re-fixation of pay and pass such other order…” 2. Brief facts of the case of the petitioner are that, the petitioner was initially appointed as Conductor on 19.05.1992, and thereafter, his services were regularized on 19.11.1992. Since then, the petitioner has been discharging his duties without any adverse remarks from the superior authorities. While matters stood thus, Respondent No.2, vide proceedings dated 24.03.2012, imposed a major penalty of stoppage of two increments with cumulative effect, which was confirmed by Respondent No.3 vide orders dated 17.01.2014 in the appeal preferred by the petitioner. Aggrieved thereby, the petitioner filed W.P.No.24986 of 2014, which was partly allowed vide orders dated 19.02.2024, whereby the punishment imposed by the disciplinary authority dated 24.03.2012 was modified to the extent of reduction of two annual increments for a period of two years without cumulative effect. In pursuance of the orders passed by this Court, the petitioner submitted a 4 VS,J W.P.No.513 of 2026 representation dated 02.12.2024 to the respondent authorities requesting them to re-fix his salary. As no orders were passed on the said representation, the petitioner was once again constrained to file W.P.No.26886 of 2025. The said Writ Petition was disposed of vide orders dated 26.09.2025, directing the respondents to examine the petitioner’s representation dated 02.12.2024 in the light of the orders passed by this Court in W.P.No.24986 of 2014 dated 19.02.2024, within a period of three (03) months, and to re-fix the pay of the petitioner. Thereafter, Respondent No.1 passed the impugned order dated 20.11.2025, rejecting the case of the petitioner by merely stating that the petitioner is not entitled to any consequential benefits, without assigning any reasons. 3. Heard learned counsel for the petitioner as well as learned Standing Counsel representing Respondent Nos.1 to 4 and learned Assistant Government Pleader for Respondent No.5. 4. It is an admitted fact that the initial punishment imposed against the petitioner was a major penalty of stoppage of two increments with cumulative effect. Subsequently, this Court, vide orders dated 19.02.2024, modified the punishment imposed by the appellate authority vide proceedings dated 24.03.2012 to reduction of two annual increments for a period of two years without cumulative effect. In such circumstances, it was incumbent upon the respondents to re-fix the salary of the petitioner. However, in the present case, Respondent No.1 passed the impugned orders merely stating that the petitioner is not eligible, without assigning any reasons and without re-fixing the petitioner’s pay as directed by this Court in W.P.No.26886 of 2025 filed by the petitioner. 5. In view of the same, this Court deems it appropriate to set aside the impugned proceedings dated 20.11.2025 issued by the Respondent No.1 and the matter is remitted back to the Respondent No.1 to pass appropriate orders on the representation already made by the petitioner on 02.12.2024, in the light of the orders passed by this Court vide orders dated 19.02.2024 in 5 VS,J W.P.No.513 of 2026 W.P.No.24986 of 2014 within a period of eight (8) weeks from the date of receipt of copy of this order and re-fix the pay of the petitioner. 6. Accordingly, the writ petition is allowed. There shall be no order as to costs. As a sequel, interlocutory applications pending, if any, shall stand closed. __________________ JUSTICE V.SUJATHA Date: 06.05.2026 MS 6 VS,J W.P.No.513 of 2026 HON’BLE SMT JUSTICE V. SUJATHA Writ Petition No: 513 of 2026 Date: 06.05.2026 MS