APHC010690802025 IN THE HIGH COURT OF ANDHRA PRADESH AT AMARAVATI (Special Original Jurisdiction) [3331] FRIDAY,THE THIRTIETH DAY OF JANUARY TWO THOUSAND AND TWENTY SIX PRESENT THE HONOURABLE SRI JUSTICE SUBBA REDDY SATTI WRIT PETITION NO: 35752/2025 Between: 1. GALI YERAMMA, W/O. LATE YELLAIAH, AGED ABOUT 80 YEARS, OCCAGRICULTURAL COOLIE, RIO. KOTAPADU VILLAGE, SANTHABOMMALI MANDAL, SRIKAKULAM DISTRICT, ANDHRA PRADESH. PIN CODE NO. 532195 2. KOYYALA SANTHAMMA,, W/O. KRISHNA MURHY, AGED ABOUT 40 YEARS, OCCAGRICULURAL COOLIE, RIO. KOTAPADU VILLAGE, SANTHABOMMALI MANDAL, SRIKAKULAM DISTRICT, ANDHRA PRADESH PIN CODE NO. 532195 ...PETITIONER(S) AND 1. THE STATE OF AP, REP BY ITS PRINCIPAL SECRETARY, PANCHAYAT RAJ AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT, SECRETARIAT BUILDING, VELGAPUDI, AMARAVATHI, GUNTUR DISTRICT, A.P. PIN CODE NO. 522237 2. 2. THE DISTRICT COLLECTOR, SRIKAKULAM, SRIKAKULAM DISTRICT, A.P. PIN CODE NO. 532001 3. 3. THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER, DISTRICT RURAL DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY (DRDA), VIJAYAWADA, KRISHNA DISTRICT, A.P. PIN CODE NO. 520010 4. 4. THE PROJECT DIRECTOR, SOCIETY FOR ELIMINATION OF RURAL POVERTY(SERP), SRIKAKULAM, SRIKAKULAM DISTRICT, A.P. PIN CODE NO. 532001 Page 2 of 5 SRS,J W.P.No.35752 of 2025 5. THE PROJECT DIRECTOR, SOCIETY FOR ELIMINATION OF RURAL POVERTY(SERP), SRIKAKULAM, SRIKAKULAM DISTRICT, A.P. PIN CODE NO. 532001 6. 6. THE MANDAL PARISHAD DEVELOPMENT OFFICER, SANTHABOMMALI MANDAL, SRIKAKULAM DISTRICT, A.P. PIN CODE NO. 532195 7. 7. THE PANCHAYAT SECRETARY, KOTAPADU VILLAGE, SANTHABOMMALI MANDAL, SRIKAKULAM DISTRICT, A.P. PIN CODE NO. 532195 ...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 topleased to issue a writ of mandamus or any other appropriate writ or direction declare the action of the respondents in questioning the action of the respondents in not paying the spouse pension of the petitioners in view of the death of husband of 1St petitioner and husband of 2NDd petitioner even though the petitioners are fully qualified and eligible as illegal, arbitrary and contrary to the Circular No.2629295/NTR DPS/SERP/2024, dt.22.11.2024 and consequently direct the respondents to release all the arrears of spouse pension from the date of succeeding month of death of the husbands of the petitioners forthwith and pass 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 Pleased to direct the respondents to release the spouse pension of the petitioners, pending disposal of writ petition and pass Counsel for the Petitioner(S): 1. K BHEEMA RAO Counsel for the Respondent(S): 1. GP FOR PANCHAYAT RAJ RURAL DEV The Court made the following: Page 3 of 5 SRS,J W.P.No.35752 of 2025 :: ORDER :: Heard Sri K.Bheema Rao, learned counsel for the petitioners, Sri P.Rajesh Kumar, learned Assistant Government Pleader for Panchayat Raj and Rural Development, Finance and Planning, appeared for respondent Nos.1 and 2, Sri M.Hari Babu, learned Standing Counsel for respondent Nos.3, 4 and 5 and Sri Y.Koteswara Rao, learned Standing Counsel appearing on behalf of respondent Nos.6 and 7. 2. 2. The above writ petition was filed to declare the action of the respondents in not sanctioning and paying spouse pension to the petitioners, despite the death of the husband of the 1st petitioner and the husband of the 2nd petitioner, though the petitioners are fully qualified and eligible, is illegal and arbitrary. 3. Sri K. Bheema Rao, learned counsel for the petitioners, submits that the 1st petitioner’s husband, who was a pensioner, died on 28.04.2024. The 2nd petitioner’s husband, who was also a pensioner, died on 09.10.2024. The Government issued G.O.Ms.No.174, Panchayat Raj & Rural Development (RD.I) Department, dated 13.12.2019, revising the guidelines for sanction of pensions under the scheme “YSR Pension Kanuka.” Thereafter, the Chief Executive Officer, Society for Elimination of Rural Poverty, issued Circular No.2629295/NTRBPS/SERP/2024, dated 22.11.2024, prescribing the Standard Operating Procedure for sanction of spouse pension. Learned Page 4 of 5 SRS,J W.P.No.35752 of 2025 counsel contends that both petitioners are entitled to a pension under the spouse category from the month immediately following the death of their respective husbands. However, respondent Nos.5 to 7 failed to sanction and release the pension. 4. Sri M. Hari Babu, learned Standing Counsel, submitted instructions on behalf of respondent No.5. As per the instructions, the MPDO approved the pensions of both the petitioners on 29.04.2025 and thereafter forwarded the same to the concerned authority on 28.11.2025. The learned Standing Counsel further submits that both the petitioners are eligible for a widow's pension and that the pension was released from 01.02.2026 onwards. 5. Since there is no dispute concerning the entitlement of the petitioners to get the pension, as indicated supra, the writ petition is disposed of directing respondent Nos.3 to 7 to ensure payment of pension to the petitioners from 01.02.2026 onwards, in accordance with G.O.Ms.No.174, Panchayat Raj & Rural Development (RD.I) Department, dated 13.12.2019. There shall be no order as to costs. As a sequel, pending miscellaneous petitions, if any, shall stand closed. ___________________________ JUSTICE SUBBA REDDY SATTI Date: 30.01.2026 S D P Page 5 of 5 SRS,J W.P.No.35752 of 2025 120 THE HONOURABLE SRI JUSTICE SUBBA REDDY SATTI WRIT PETITION NO: 35752/2025 Date: 30.01.2026 S D P