APHC010154732026 IN THE HIGH COURT OF ANDHRA PRADESH AT AMARAVATI (Special Original Jurisdiction) [3208] THURSDAY,THE NINTH DAY OF APRIL TWO THOUSAND AND TWENTY SIX PRESENT THE HONOURABLE SRI JUSTICE D RAMESH WRIT PETITION NO: 9288/2026 Between: 1. GANDAM SAI SREENIVASULU, S/O NAGAIAH, AGED ABOUT 31 YEARS, OCC JUNIOR ASSISTANT, OFFICE OF DEPUTY INSPECTOR GENERAL (R AND S), KADAPA, YSR KADAPA DISTRICT. ...PETITIONER AND 1. THE STATE OF ANDHRA PRADESH, REP. BY ITS PRINCIPAL SECRETARY, DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE, REGISTRATION AND STAMPS, SECRETARIAT, VELAGAPUDI, AMARAVATHI - 522 238. 2. THE COMMISSIONER AND INSPECTOR GENERAL OF REGISTRATION AND STAMPS, GOVERNMENT OF ANDHRA PRADESH, 5-59, R.K.SPRING VALLEY APARTMENTS, EDUPUGALLU, KANKIPADU MANDAL, VIJAYAWADA, KRISHNA DISTRICT - 521 151. 3. THE DY INSPECTOR GENERAL OF REGISTRATION AND STAMPS, OFFICE OF THE DY. INSPECTOR GENERAL OF REGISTRATION AND STAMPS, KURNOOL, KURNOOL DISTRICT A.P. - 518 002. 4. THE DY INSPECTOR GENERAL OF REGISTRATION AND STAMPS, OFFICE OF THE DY. INSPECTOR GENERAL OF REGISTRATION AND STAMPS, KADAPA, YSR KADAPA DISTRICT 516 001. 5. THE DISTRICT REGISTRAR, REGISTRATION AND STAMPS, KADAPA, YSR KADAPA DISTRICT - 516 001. ...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 a writ, order or direction more particularly one in the nature of writ of Mandamus declaring the action of the 3rd respondent in not promoting the petitioner to the post of Senior Assistant which is non-selection post in view of the seniority list dated 18-03-2026 prepared by the 5th respondent solely on the ground of pendency of Charge Memo vide Proc.No.X/474-2/2017, dated 04-10-2023 issued by the 4th respondent is illegal, arbitrary, unconstitutional, violation of principles of natural justice and consequently direct the respondents to promote the petitioner for the post of Senior Assistant from the post of Junior Assistant and pass ….” 2. Heard the learned counsel for the petitioner and the learned Government Pleader for the respondents. 3. The learned counsel for the petitioner submits that the respondents in not promoting the petitioner to the post of Senior Assistant, which is a non-selection post, on the sole ground of pendency of Charge Memo vide Proc.No.X/474-2/2017 dated 04.10.2023 issued by the 4th respondent, despite the seniority list dated 18.03.2026 prepared by the 5th respondent, is illegal, arbitrary and in violation of Rule 5(b) of the Andhra Pradesh State and Subordinate Service Rules, 1996. It is further submitted that in similar cases this Court has already considered the issue and disposed of the matter in W.P.No.5627 of 2026, and therefore the petitioner seeks similar relief. 4. The issue involved in the present case has already been considered by a Division Bench of this Court in W.A. No.550 of 2022 (State of A.P. vs. Ch. Venkata Rao), wherein it was held as follows- 4. On the other hand, the learned Government Pleader for Services-I has referred to G.O.Ms.No.66 General Administration (Services.C) Department, dated 30.01.1991 to contend that when charges of misconduct are framed by the competent authority and served on the concerned delinquent officer, or a charge sheet has been filed against him in criminal court, his case for promotion is required to be deferred. 5. We have heard Mr. Aswartha Narayana, learned Government Pleader for Services I appearing for the appellants and Mr. G. Seena Kumar, learned counsel for the respondent/writ petitioner, and perused the material available on record. The learned single Judge has referred to the Judgment rendered by the Division Bench of this Court in the case of State of Andhra Pradesh rep., by its Secretary, Home Department vs. Motupalli Narasimha Raju (W.P.No.3099 of 2017), dated 27.08.2021, to hold that G.O.Ms.No.424 GA (Ser.C) department, dated 25.05.1976 is not applicable in the case of the petitioner, who is a constable and it is applicable to the selection post falling under Rule 5(a) and Rule 6 of the Rules, 1996, and the said G.O., does not come in the way of the petitioner to claim promotion during pendency of the departmental proceedings and therefore, the petitioner is entitled to the relief claimed for. 7. 7. In the Division Bench judgment in Motupalli Narasimha Raju (supra), a Coordinate Bench has held that the post of Head Constable is a non-selection post for the purposes of promotion and therefore, in view of Rule 5(b)(i) of the Rules, 1996, the promotion can be deferred only upon imposition of penalty and not otherwise. It has also been held that the additional embargo, if any created under a G.O., which is not issued in exercise of powers under Article 309 of the Constitution of India, would not override Rule 5(b)(i) of the Rules, which clearly states that promotion to a non-selection post may be denied only if the incumbent is subjected to a penalty and not otherwise. Thus, neither G.O.Ms.No.424, GA (Ser.C) department, dated 25.05.1976 nor G.O.Ms.No.66, General Administration (Services.C) department, dated 30.01.1991 would come in the way of the writ petitioner to claim relief of promotion as has been held by the learned single Judge. The writ appeal has no substance and it deserves to be dismissed. 5. Following the said ratio laid down by the Division Bench, a Coordinate Bench of this Court in W.P. No.21608 of 2024 disposed of the writ petition in similar terms. The said legal position is not disputed by the learned Government Pleader. 6. Considering the submissions made and without going into the merits of the case this Writ Petition is disposed of, with a direction to the respondent authorities to consider the case of the petitioner for promotion, if he is otherwise within the zone of consideration, in terms of Rule 5(b)(i) of the Andhra Pradesh State and Subordinate Service Rules, 1996, without reference to the Articles of Charge dated 04.10.2023 issued by the respondents. There shall be no order as to costs. As a sequel, interlocutory applications if any pending, shall stand closed. ________________________ JUSTICE D RAMESH 09.04.2026 klk 77 THE HONOURABLE SRI JUSTICE D RAMESH WRIT PETITION NO: 9288/2026 09.04.2026 klk