Date of reserved for orders : -- Date of pronouncement : 31.07.2026 Date of uploading : 31.07.2026 APHC010399242026 IN THE HIGH COURT OF ANDHRA PRADESH AT AMARAVATI (Special Original Jurisdiction) [3460] FRIDAY, THE 31st DAY OF JULY 2026 PRESENT THE HONOURABLE SRI JUSTICE NYAPATHY VIJAY WRIT PETITION NO: 21351/2026 Between: 1. ADIGARLA SATYA MURTHY, S/O. NAIDU, AGED 59 YEARS, OCC LINE INSPECTOR, ROWTHALAPUDI SECTION, PRATTIPADU SUB-DIVISION, JAGGAMPETA DIVISION EMPLOYEE ID NO.1024601, R/O. KOTHA KOTTAM, KOTANANDURU MANDAL, KAKINADA DISTRICT - 533407. 2. P. CHELLI BABU, S/O. ATCHIBABU, AGED 59 YEARS, OCC EE/MRT-2/APEPDCL/ANAKAPALLI, EMPLOYEE ID NO.1019312, R/O. D.NO.39-10-10, SUNRISE VILLA, MURALI NAGAR, VISAKHAPATNAM, VISAKHAPATNAM DISTRICT - 530007. ...PETITIONER(S) AND 1. THE STATE OF ANDHRA PRADESH, ENERGY DEPARTMENT, SECRETARIAT, VELAGAPUDI, AMARAVATHI, GUNTUR DISTRICT, REP. BY ITS SPECIAL CHIEF SECRETARY - 522237. 2 2. STATE OF ANDHRA PRADESH, FINANCE DEPARTMENT, SECRETARIAT, VELAGAPUDI, AMARAVATHI, GUNTUR DISTRICT, REP. BY ITS PRINCIPAL SECRETARY - 522237. 3. THE ANDHRA PRADESH EASTERN POWER DISTRIBUTION CORPORATION LTD APEPDCL, REP. BY ITS CHAIRMAN MANAGING DIRECTOR, APEPDCL, CORPORATE OFFICE, P T COLONY, SEETHAMMADHARA, VISAKHAPATNAM - 530013. 4. THE DIRECTOR HRD, APEPDCL, CORPORATE OFFICE, P T COLONY, SEETHAMMADHARA, VISAKHAPATNAM - 530013. 5. CHIEF GENERAL MANAGER HRD, APEPDCL, CORPORATE OFFICE, P T COLONY, SEETHAMMADHARA, VISAKHAPATNAM - 530013. 6. THE EXECUTIVE ENGINEER, OPERATIONS DIVISION APEDPCL, JAGGAMPETA, KAKINADA - 533 435. ...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 an appropriate Writ, Order or direction more particularly one in the nature of Writ of Mandamus declaring the action of the respondent authorities in trying to relive and retire the petitioners on 31.07.2026 on attaining the age of 60 years instead of 62 years, even after issuance of G.O.Ms.No.45, dt.02.07.2026 enhancing the age of superannuation from 60 to 62 years to the regular employees working in the public sector undertakings, corporations, societies, including in IX and X schedules of A.P. Reorganization Act, 2014 as illegal, arbitrary, violation of fundamental rights guaranteed under Articles 14, 16 and 19 of Constitution of India and consequently direct the respondents to continue the respondents in service till the petitioners attain the age of 62 years with all consequential benefit 3 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 Direct the respondent authorities to continue the Petitioners in service till the Petitioners attains the age of 62 years pending disposal of the writ petition in the interest of justice. Counsel for the Petitioner(S): 1. C SUBODH Counsel for the Respondent(S): 1. GP FOR SERVICES I The Court made the following: Whether the order is : Speaking Yes/No / Reasoned Yes/No Reportable Yes/No / Non-Reportable Yes/No 4 THE HONOURABLE SRI JUSTICE NYAPATHY VIJAY W.P.No.21351 of 2026 ORDER: 1. The Writ Petition is filed questioning the action of the Respondents in proposing to relieve the Petitioners on 31.07.2026, on attaining the age of 60 years instead of 62 years, as illegal and arbitrary. 2. The Petitioners are working in Executive Cadre in The Andhra Pradesh Eastern Power Distribution Corporation Ltd., (for short ‘APEPDCL’). The Government, amended the Andhra Pradesh Public Employment (Regulation of Age of Superannuation) Act, 1984, and enhanced the age of superannuation to 62 years to all the regular employees of the Government. 3. Subsequently, the State Government issued G.O.Ms.No.45 Fin (HR.IV-FR&LR) Department, dated 02.07.2026, enhancing the age of regular employees of entities listed in schedule IX and X of the Andhra Pradesh Reorganization Act, 2014. In the light of the above, the Petitioners seek for enhancement of age of superannuation for 62 years from 60 years. 4. Learned Standing Counsel appearing for Respondent No.3 would submit that the Respondent Authorities had constituted a Six- Member Committee on 20.07.2026 vide T.O.O (Addl.Secy-Per) Ms.No.4321, for examining the feasibility of enhancement of age of superannuation for employees of the Andhra Pradesh Power Utilities. 5 5. Heard the learned counsels. 6. In the light of the above, the present Writ Petition is disposed of with the following directions: i) The Respondents shall continue the Petitioners till the age of 62 years or till a comprehensive decision is taken by the Committee, constituted vide T.O.O (Addl.Secy-Per) Ms No.4321, dated 20.07.2026, for enhancement of the age of superannuation from 60 to 62 years, as the case may be. ii) There shall be no order as to costs. 7. As a sequel, miscellaneous petitions, if any, shall stand closed. __________________ NYAPATHY VIJAY, J Date: 31.07.2026 IS 6 THE HONOURABLE SRI JUSTICE NYAPATHY VIJAY W.P.No.21351 of 2026 Date: 31.07.2026 IS 7