Date of Reserve: 16.12.2025 Date of Pronouncement: 06.02.2026 APHC010635352025 IN THE HIGH COURT OF ANDHRA PRADESH AT AMARAVATI (Special Original Jurisdiction) [3460] FRIDAY, THE SIXTH DAY OF FEBRUARY TWO THOUSAND AND TWENTY SIX PRESENT THE HONOURABLE SRI JUSTICE NYAPATHY VIJAY WRIT PETITION NO: 32845/2025 Between: 1. S PRASANNA KUMAR, S/O. S. SYAMALA RAO, AGED ABOUT 44 YEARS, PRESENTLY WORKING AS ARCHAKA AT SRI BRAHMARAMBHIKA MALLIKARJUNA SWAMY VARLA DEVASTHANAM, SRISAILAM, NANDYAL DISTRICT ...PETITIONER AND 1. THE STATE OF ANDHRA PRADESH, REP. BY ITS PRINCIPAL SECRETARY(REVENUE ENDOWMENTS) SECRETARIAT BUILDINGS, VELAGAPUDI, AMARAVATHI, GUNTUR- 522237. 2. COMMISSIONER OF ENDOWMENTS, ENDOWMENTS DEPARTMENT, GOLLAPUDI, VIJAYAWADA,NTR DISTRICT. 3. SRI BRAHMARAMBHIKA MALLIKARJUNA SWAMY VARLA DEVASTHANAM, SRISAILAM, NANDYAL DISTRICT, REP. BY ITS EXECUTIVE OFFICER ...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 pleased to issue a writ or direction, more particularly, a writ of Mandamus declaring the action of the Respondents in excluding the Petitioner from consideration for promotion as Mukhya Archaka by 2 treating him as not qualified vide Seniority List dated 17.10.2025 issued by the 3rd respondent and by refusing to consider him as Mukhya Archaka vide memo dated 16.11.2025 issued by the 2nd respondent, despite non-conduct of Agama Exams since 2019 as illegal, arbitrary, unconstitutional and consequently direct the Respondents to duly consider and promote him as Mukhya Archaka on parity with similarly situated Archakas, and pass such other orders. IA NO: 1 OF 2025 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 pass such other orders. Counsel for the Petitioner: 1. BHARAT BABU.N Counsel for the Respondent(S): 1. T VENU GOPAL SC FOR ENDOWMENTS (RAYALASEEMA REGION) 2. GP FOR SERVICES II The Court made the following: 3 THE HON’BLE SRI JUSTICE NYAPATHY VIJAY WRIT PETITION No.32845 of 2025 ORDER: 1. The present Writ Petition is filed to declare the action of Respondents in not considering the case of the Petitioner for promotion to the post of “Mukhya Archaka” on the ground that the Petitioner had not qualified in the departmental examination of ‘Archaka Pravesa’, as illegal and arbitrary. 2. The brief facts are as follows; The Petitioner was appointed as “Paricharika” on 22.06.2013 and on acquiring the qualification of “Archaka Pravesa” the Petitioner was promoted as “Archaka” on 21.06.2021. As per the Rules framed under G.O.Ms.No.261, Revenue (Endowments-I), dated 20.05.2002 (hereinafter referred to as “Andhra Pradesh Charitable and Hindu Religious Institutions Endowments Archakas and other Office Holders and Servants Qualifications and Emoluments Rules, 2001”) (for short “Rules, 2001”) the next promotion post available to the Petitioner is “Mukhya Archaka”. 4 3. It is stated that as per the said Rules, the Petitioner has to qualify in the departmental examination of “Archaka Pravesa” for promotion to the post of “Mukhya Archaka”. However, the said departmental examination was last conducted in the year 2019 and thereafter a notification was issued in the year 2024 only. However, the examination pursuant to the notification issued in the year 2024 is yet to be conducted. On the ground that the Petitioner did not qualify in the “Archaka Pravesa” departmental examination, the case of the Petitioner was not considered vide Memo in Rc.No.C1/COE- 13025(48)/8/2025, dated 16.11.2025 for promotion to the available vacancy of “Mukhya Archaka” in Respondent No.3-Temple. Hence, the present Writ Petition is filed. 4. The learned Senior Counsel Sri P. Gangaiah Naidu, assisted by Mr. N. Bharat Babu, learned counsel for the Petitioner would submit that as the departmental exams were not conducted, it is not possible for the Petitioner to qualify in the departmental examination and denying promotion to the Petitioner to the post of “Mukhya Archaka” on such ground cannot be sustained. 5. The further contention of the Senior Counsel is that Respondent No.2-Commissioner is not consistent with regard to this aspect and submitted that vide order in 5 L.Dis.No.C1/13025(43)/61/2024, dated 16.01.2025, the Commissioner had promoted a similarly placed person by name M. Ravi Kumar as “Mukhya Archaka” of Sri Bhrahmarama Mallikarjuna Swamy Varla Devasthanam, Srisailam, which is the subject matter of challenge in W.P.No.1620 of 2025. The learned Senior Counsel would further submit that the Petitioner should be extended the similar benefit. 6. The learned Government Pleader appearing for Respondent Nos.1 and 2 as well as Sri T. Venu Gopal, learned Standing Counsel appearing for Respondent No.3-Temple would submit that the conditional promotion can be effected on par with the similarly placed person M. Ravi Kumar, who was promoted as “Mukhya Archaka” as per the order of Respondent No.2-Commissioner dated 16.01.2025 in Respondent No.3-Temple subject to the qualification of ‘Archaka Pravesa’ examination within a period of one (1) year from the date of appointment, but would submit that there is no possibility of exemption from qualifying in the examination unless the Petitioner had crossed the age of ‘45 years’ as mentioned under Rule 8 of the Rules, 2001. 7. Heard the counsel. 8. The Andhra Pradesh Charitable and Hindu Religious Institutions and Endowments Archakas and other Office Holders 6 and Servants Qualifications and Emoluments Rules, 2001 framed under Section 35(3) and 153(1) of the Andhra Pradesh Charitable and Hindu Religious Institutions and Endowments Act, 1987 (for short “Act 30 of 1987”) governs the appointments to the post of “Mukhya Archaka”. The Method of Appointment to the post of “Mukhya Archaka” is by promotion from Category-IV i.e. “Archaka” and the eligibility is that the person should have passed the ‘Archaka Pravara’ examination. Rule 7 of the said Rules, 2001 is extracted below; “7. Method of appointment and qualifications: The method of appointment and the qualifications of the Archakas shall be as follows:- Sl.No Category Name of the Post Method of Appointment Qualifications Age (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) 1. I Pradhana Archaka By promotion from Category-II Must have passed Archaka Pravara Examination conducted by the Commissioner of Endowments -- 2. II Upa Pradhana Archaka By promotion from Category- III Must have passed Archaka Pravara Examination conducted by the Commissioner of Endowments -- 7 3. III Mukhya Archaka By Promotion from Category- IV Must have passed the Archaka Pravara Examination conducted by the Commissioner of Endowments -- 4. IV Archaka By direct recruitment or by promotion from the post of Paricharika or cook Must have passed the Archaka Pravesa Examination conducted by the Commissioner of Endowments Must have completed the age of (18) years & must not have completed the age of (38) years for direct recruitment. 9. Rule 8(2) of the Rules, 2001 enables the Commissioner to exempt a person from possessing qualifications specified in Rule 7 of the Rules, 2001, provided the person has completed ‘45 years’ of age and is well-acquainted with ‘Pooja Vidhanam’ in the said ‘Agama’ or ‘Sampradayam’. The Rule 8(2) of the Rules, 2001 reads as under; “8. Prescribing of qualifications: (1) …….. (2) In the case of appointment by promotion, the Commissioner may exempt a person from possession qualifications specified in Rule 7 of these rules provided that if he completed (45) years of age and is well acquainted with Pooja Vidhanam in the said Agama or Sampradayam. If it is found necessary the Commissioner may also require such person to appear for oral test as may be decided by him.” 8 10. The promotion is as per seniority and suitability as provided in Rule 9 and this assumes significance in the context of this case and this Rule 9 of Rules, 2001 is extracted below; “Rule 9::Method of Promotion: The Promotion from one category to another shall be on the basis of seniority-cum-suitability.” 11. The Commissioner of Endowments vide Proceedings in L.Dis.No.C1/13025(43)/61/2024 dated 16.01.2025 had promoted one M. Ravi Kumar of Sri Bhrahmarama Mallikarjuna Swamy varla Devasthanam, Srisailam as per the seniority in the existing vacancy on par with his juniors with a further direction to acquire requisite qualification within one (1) year. The said order was challenged in W.P.No.1620 of 2025 and the same was upheld by this Court. Therefore, there is no reason for the Respondent-authorities to adopt different procedure as regards the Petitioner. 12. In the light of the above, the Writ Petition is disposed of with the following directions; (i) The Respondent-authorities are directed to consider the case of the Petitioner for promotion to the post of “Mukhya Archaka” as per his seniority on the condition of qualifying the 9 departmental examination in the ‘Archaka Pravesa’ within a period of one (1) year from the date of his appointment; (ii) No order as to costs. 13. As a sequel, pending applications, if any, shall stand closed. __________________ NYAPATHY VIJAY, J Date: 06.02.2026 IS 10 HON’BLE SRI JUSTICE NYAPATHY VIJAY WRIT PETITION No.32845 of 2025 Date: 06.02.2026 IS