APHC010358562026 IN THE HIGH COURT OF ANDHRA PRADESH AT AMARAVATI (Special Original Jurisdiction) [3601] THURSDAY, THE 16th DAY OF JULY 2026 PRESENT THE HONOURABLE SRI JUSTICE RAVI NATH TILHARI THE HONOURABLE SRI JUSTICE PURUSHOTTAM KUMAR CHINTALAPUDI WRIT PETITION NO: 19254/2026 Between: 1. BHASKAR RAJU ATHI, S/O SHRI APPALA RAJU, OCC COMMERCIAL-CUM-TICKET CLERK CCTC O/O CHIEF TICKET INSPECTOR AMENITIES /BZA, VIJAYAWADA RAILWAY STATION, RESIDENT OF FLATNO.302, B BLOCK, PAWAN VIHAR APARTMENT, VISHNUPURAM COLONY, PORANKI, VIJAYAWADA, NTR DISTRICT, ANDHRA PRADESH, PIN-521137, PF NO 24429809539, MOBILE NO 9116161980 2. Y RAGHAVENDRA RAO, S/O SHRI VARAHALU, OCC COMMERCIAL-CUM-TICKET CLERK CCTC O/O CHIEF TICKET INSPECTOR AMENITIES /BZA, VIJAYAWADA RAILWAY STATION, VIJAYAWADA, NTR DISTRICT, ANDHRA PRADESH, PIN-520001, 3. R CHANDRASEKARA RAO, , S/O SHRI VARAHALU, OCC COMMERCIAL-CUM-TICKET CLERK CCTC, O/O CHIEF TICKET INSPECTOR (AMENITIES)/BZA, VIJAYAWADA RAILWAY STATION, VIJAYAWADA, NTR DISTRICT, ANDHRA PRADESH, PIN-520001, 4. VIKAS KUMAR RAY, . S/O SHRI RAJLCUMAR RAY, OCC COMMERCIAL-CUM-TICKET CLERK CCTC O/O CHIEF TICKET INSPECTOR (AMENITIES)/BZA, VIJAYAWADA RAILWAY STATION, VIJAYAWADA, NTR DISTRICT, ANDHRA PRADESH, PIN-520001, 5. KAUSHAL KISHORE PATHAK, S/O SHRI ABHAY KANT PATHAK, OCC COMMERCIAL-CUM-TICKET CLERK CCTC O/O CHIEF TICKET INSPECTOR AMENITIES BZA, VIJAYAWADA RAILWAY 2 STATION, VIJAYAWADA, NTR DISTRICT, ANDHRA PRADESH, PIN-520001 6. BAIDHNATH KUMAR, S/O SHRI SIYARAM RAY, OCC CCTC, O/O CHIEF TICKET INSPECTOR AMENITIES BZA, VIJAYAWADA RAILWAY STATION, VIJAYAWADA, NTR DISTRICT, ANDHRA PRADESH, PIN-520001 7. ASISH KUMAR, , S/O SHRI ANIL SAH, OCC CCTC O/O CHIEF TICKET INSPECTOR AMENITIES BZA, VIJAYAWADA RAILWAY STATION, VIJAYAWADA, NTR DISTRICT, ANDHRA PRADESH, PIN-520001 8. CHANDRA PRAKASH KUMAR, S/O SHRI SURESH PRASAD, OCC COMMERCIAL-CUM-TICKET CLERK CCTC, O/O CHIEF TICKET INSPECTOR AMENITIES BZA, VIJAYAWADA RAILWAY STATION, VIJAYAWADA, NTR DISTRICT, ANDHRA PRADESH, PIN-520001 9. CHANDAN KUMAR, S/O SHRI ARVIND SHARMA, OCC COMMERCIAL-CUM-TICKET CLERK (CCTC), O/O CHIEF TICKET INSPECTOR (AMENITIES)/BZA, VIJAYAWADA RAILWAY STATION, VIJAYAWADA, NTR DISTRICT, ANDHRA PRADESH, PIN-520001 10. RAUSHAN PRATAP, , S/O SHRI AKILESH PRASAD, OCC COMMERCIAL-CUM-TICKET CLERK (CCTC), O/O CHIEF TICKET INSPECTOR (AMENITIES)/BZA, VIJAYAWADA RAILWAY STATION, VIJAYAWADA, NTR DISTRICT, ANDHRA PRADESH, PNSL-520001 11. KUNAL GOVIND, S/O SHRI GOPAL JEE JHA, OCC COMMERCIAL- CUM-TICKET CLERK (CCTC), O/O CHIEF TICKET INSPECTOR (AMENITIES)/BZA, VIJAYAWADA RAILWAY STATION, VIJAYAWADA, NTR DISTRICT, ANDHRA PRADESH, PIN-520001 12. BALA KRISHNA PALLI, S/O SHRI SIVUNNADU, OCCI CCTC, O/O CHIEF TICKET INSPECTOR (AMENITIES)/BZA, VIJAYAWADA RAILWAY STATION, VIJAYAWADA, NTR DISTRICT, ANDLNA PRADESH, PIN-520001 13. JAMI BALA KRISHNA, S/O SHRI PRASADA RAO, OCC CCTC, O/O CHIEF TICKET INSPECTOR (AMENITIES)/BZA, VIJAYAWADA RAILWAY STATION, VIJAYAWADA, NTR DISTRICT, ANDHIA PRADESH, PIN-520001 3 14. MUKUNDA AO M, S/O SHRI M BODANNA, OCC COMMERCIAL- CUM-TICKET CLERK, ,' O/O CHIEF TICKET INSPECTOR (AMENITIES)/BZA, VIJAYAWADA RAILWAY STATION, VIJAYAWADA, NTR DISTRICT, ANDHRA PRADESH, PIN-520001 15. HARE KRISHNA KUMAR, S/O SHRI GYANCHAND PRASAD, OCC COMMERCIAL-CUM-TICKET CLERK (CCTC), O/O CHIEF TICKET INSPECTOR (AMENITIES)/BZA, VIJAYAWADA RAILWAY STATION, VIJAYAWADA, NTR DISTRICT, ANDLNA PRADESH, PIN-520001 16. MANISH KUMAR, S/O SHRI CHANDRADHAN SINGH OCC COMMERCIAL-CUM-TICKET CLERK (CCTC), O/O CHIEF TICKET INSPECTOR (AMENITIES)/BZA, VIJAYAWADA RAILWAY STATION, VIJAYAWADA, NTR DISTRICT, ANDHRA PRADESH, PIN-520001 17. HEERAJ KUMAR, S/O SHRI ISHWAR MAHTO, OCC COMMERCIAL-CUM-TICKET CLERK, O/O CHIEF TICKET INSPECTOR (AMENITIES)/BZA, VIJAYAWADA RAILWAY STATION, VIJAYAWADA, NTR DISTRICT, ANDLNA PRADESH, PIN-520001 18. T KRISHNA RAO, S/O SHRI VARAHALU,OCC CCTC, O/O CHIEF TICKET INSPECTOR (AMENITIES)/BZA, VIJAYAWADA RAILWAY STATION, VIJAYAWADA, NTR DISTRICT, ANDHRA PRADESH, PIN-520001 19. SACHIN SHARMA, S/O SHRI NARESH KUMAR, OCC COMMERCIAL-CUM-TICKET CLERK, O/O CHIEF TICKET INSPECTOR (AMENITIES)/BZA, VIJAYAWADA RAILWAY STATION, VIJAYAWADA, NTR DISTRICT, ANDHRA PRADESH, PIN-520001 20. AMARJEET KUMAR, S/O SHRI INDRADEV RAVIDAS, OCC COMMERCIAL-CUM-TICKET CLERK (CCTC), O/O CHIEF TICKET INSPECTOR (AMENITIES)/BZA, , VIJ AYAWADA RAILWAY STATION, VIJ AYAWADA, NTR DISTRICT, ANDHRA PRADESH, PIN-5200 21. YOUSAF SAHAJAD, S/O SHRI MD SAHAJAD, OCC CCTC, O/O CHIEF TICKET INSPECTOR (AMENITIES)/BZA, VIJAYAWADA RAILWAY STATION, VIJAYAWADA, NTR DISTRICT, ANDHRA PRADESH, PIN-520001 22. RAKESH KUMAR MEENA, S/O SHRI BANSHIDHAR MEENA, OCC COMMERCIAL-CUM-TICKET CLERK (CCTC), O/O CHIEF TICKET 4 INSPECTOR (AMENITIES)/BZA, VIJAYAWADA RAILWAY STATION, VIJAYAWADA, NTR DISTRICT, ANDHRA PRADESH, PIN-520001 23. PRATYAKSH, S/O SHRI OMANAND, OCC COMMERCIAL-CUM- TICKET CLERK (CCTC), O/O CHIEF TICKET INSPECTOR (AMENITIES)/BZA, VIJAYAWADA RAILWAY STATION, VIJAYAWADA, NTR DISTRICT, ANDHRA PRADESH, PIN-520001 24. RAJ AT KUMAR, S/O SHRI RAMESWAR PANDIT, OCC CCTC, O/O CHIEF TICKET INSPECTOR/BZA, VIJAYAWADA RAILWAY STATION, VIJAYAWADA, NTR DISTRICT, ANDHRA PRADESH, PIN-520001 25. GOPAL KUMAR JHA, S/O SHRI MOHAN JHA, OCC CCTC, O/O CHIEF TICKET INSPECTOR (AMENITIES)/BZA, VIJAYAWADA RAILWAY STATION, VIJAYAWADA, NTR DISTRICT, ANDHRA PRADESH, PIN-520001 ...PETITIONER(S) AND 1. THE REGISTRAR CENTRAL ADMINISTRATIVE TRIBUNAL HYD, a ...RESPONDENT 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 or order or direction more particularly one in the nature of writ of Certiorari calling for the records pertaining to the impugned order dated 21.04.2026 made in Miscellaneous Application No. 164/2026 in Original Application registered with Diary No.628/2026 by the Honarable Central Administrative Tribunal, Hyderabad Bench, sitting Circuit at Vijayawada, declare and set aside the same as illegal, arbitrary, contrary to law, and declare that the petitioners are entitled to file a single application under Rule 4(5)(a) of the Central Administrative Tribunal (Procedure) Rules, 1987, and consequently direct the Tribunal to number and hear the Original Application on merits 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 leased to suspend the order dated 21.04.2026 made in Miscellaneous 5 Application No. 164/2026 in Original Application registered with Diary No.628/2026 by the Hon’ble Central Administrative Tribunal, Hyderabad Bench, sitting circuit at Vijayawada, and pass Counsel for the Petitioner(S): 1. EDUKONDALU CHANDU Counsel for the Respondent: 1. The Court made the following: 6 THE HONOURABLE SRI JUSTICE RAVI NATH TILHARI THE HONOURABLE SRI JUSTICE PURUSHOTTAM KUMAR CHINTALAPUDI WRIT PETITION NO: 19254/2026 ORDER: (per Ravi Nath Tilhari, J) Heard Edukondalu Chandu, learned counsel for the petitioners. 2. The petitioners 111 in number filed D.A.No.628 of 2026 against the respondents before the Central Administrative Tribunal, Hyderabad for the following reliefs: “.....pleased to call for the records leading to and connected with the impugned provisional seniority list issued in file No.SCR/P- BZA/535/I/CCTC/Seniority dated 15.12.2025 to the extent of the private respondents and consequential promotional orders issued in favour of the private respondent Nos.5 to 22, 24 to 42, 46, 63, 68, 70, 74, 78, 85 and 91 in Office order No.COMML/92/2025 in file No.SCR/P- BZA/535/I/Sr.CCTC/PQ/Vol-I dated 30.12.2025, declare, quash and set aside the same as illegal, arbitrary, contrary to rules and law, and consequently direct the official respondents to redraw the seniority list dated 15.12.2025 placing the applicants above the private respondents with all consequential benefits, and pass such other order or orders.....” 3. They also filed MA.No.164 of 2026 in D.A.No.628 of 2026 i.e., an application with the request to the petitioners (applicants) to join together and file a single application under rule 4(5)(a) of the CAT (Procedure) Rules, 1987. The said application, has been rejected by an order dated 21.04.2026. The order reads as under: “Heard Mr.G. Trinadha Rao, learned counsel for the applicant. M.A./164/2026, filed for joining together, is rejected. 7 Registry is directed to return the papers in the O.A. even in respect of the first applicant since, no specific averment has been made therein, against the private respondents, with whom the applicants are comparing. The individuals/applicants in the M.A. may file their individual petitions to make out their case, if they so desire.” 4. Learned counsel for the petitioners submits that the cause of action to all the petitioners against all the respondents, is same and they sought the same relief. He submits that the private respondents in the writ petition as also in OA were all appointed pursuant to the subsequent notification. The petitioners were senior to them as they were appointed pursuant to the previous notification and they had joined earlier but the private respondents were made senior to the writ petitioners in the seniority list and challenging that, the OA was filed. 5. Learned counsel for the petitioners submits that in view of Rule 4(5)(a) of the CAT (Procedure) Rules, 1987, the cause of action being the same and the same relief also being sought against the respondents, the Tribunal ought to have considered and allowed the MA but without considering the legal provisions, the application was rejected by a non reasoned order. 6. Since the rejection of the petitioners’ application, is only at the stage of numbering and it is not a case where the notice were issued to the respondents and after affording them opportunity of hearing, the impugned 8 order was passed. We dispense with the issuance of notice in this writ petition to the respondents. 7. Rule 4 of the CAT (Procedure) Rules, 1987 reads as under: 4. Procedure for filing applications.-(1) An application to the Tribunal shall be presented in Form I by the applicant in person or by an agent or by a duly authorised legal practitioner to the Registrar or any other officer authorised in writing by the Registrar to receive the same or be sent by registered post with acknowledgment due addressed to the Registrar of the Bench concerned. (2) The application under sub-rule (1) shall be presented in triplicate in the following two compilations,- (i) Compilation Number 1-application along with the impugned order, if any; (ii) Compilation Number 2-all other documents and annexures referred to in the application in a paper-book form. (3) Where the number of respondents is more than one, as many extra copies of the application in paper-book form as there are respondents together with unused file-size envelopes bearing the full address of each respondent shall be furnished by the applicant: Provided that where the number of respondents is more than five, the Registrar may permit the applicant to file the extra copies of the application at the time of issue of notice to the respondents. (4) The applicant may attach to and present with his application a receipt slip in Form II which shall be signed by the Registrar or the Officer receiving the application on behalf of the Registrar in acknowledgment of the receipt of the application. (5)(a) Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-rules (1) to (3), the Tribunal may permit more than one person to join together and file a single application if it is satisfied, having 9 regard to the cause of action and the nature of relief prayed for, that they have a common interest in the matter. (b) Such permission may also be granted to an association representing the persons desirous of joining in a single application provided, however, that the application shall disclose the class/grade/categories of persons on whose behalf it has been filed provided that at least one affected person joins such an application.” 8. The submissions of learned counsel for the petitioners has got the substance to this extent, at this stage that, the Tribunal did not consider the provision of Section 4(5)(a) of the CAT (Procedure) Rules, 1987 and has not given any reason for which the permission could not be granted to maintain one petition. 9. The CAT should have considered the provisions of Rule 4 of the Rules, 1987 and in the light of the facts on records should have recorded a specific finding on the point of maintaining one petition before it. 10. For the aforesaid reason only, we set aside the order of the Tribunal and remit the matter to the Tribunal to reconsider the petitioners’ M.A.No.164 of 2026, in the light of the provisions of Section 4(5)(a) of the CAT (Procedure) Rules, 1987 in the facts of the applicants/petitioners’ case and pass a reasoned and speaking order. 11. The Writ petition is allowed with the aforesaid observations and the directions, clarifying that we have not determined if one OA would be maintainable or not. No order as to costs. 10 As a sequel thereto, miscellaneous petitions, if any pending, shall also stand closed. ____________________ RAVI NATH TILHARI,J _____________________________________ PURUSHOTTAM KUMAR CHINTALAPUDI,J Dated: 16.07.2026 AG 11 138 THE HONOURABLE SRI JUSTICE RAVI NATH TILHARI THE HONOURABLE SRI JUSTICE PURUSHOTTAM KUMAR CHINTALAPUDI WRIT PETITION NO: 19254/2026 Dated: 16.07.2026 AG