APHC010401932026 IN THE HIGH COURT OF ANDHRA PRADESH AT AMARAVATI (Special Original Jurisdiction) [3327] TUESDAY, THE 11th DAY OF AUGUST 2026 PRESENT THE HONOURABLE SRI JUSTICE K SREENIVASA REDDY WRIT PETITION NO: 21613/2026 Between: 1. THOTAKURA RAMARAO, S/O.VENKATESWARLU, AGED ABOUT 68 YEARS, OCC COOLIE, R/O.H.NO.1-97, KARAMPUDIPADU VILLAGE, VATTICHERUKURU MANDAL, GUNTUR DISTRICT-522212. ...PETITIONER A N D 1. STATE OF ANDHRA PRADESH, REP. BY ITS PRINCIPAL SECRETARY DEPARTMENT OF PANCHAYAT RAJ AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT (RD-1), SECRETARIAT, VELAGAPUDI, GUNTUR DISTRICT, REPRESENTED BY ITS PRINCIPAL SECRETARY., PIN 522237. 2. THE PROJECT DIRECTOR, DISTRICT RURAL DEVELOPMENT AGENCY (DRDA), GUNTUR, GUNTUR DISTRICT, PIN 522004. 3. THE DISTRICT COLLECTOR, GUNTUR DISTRICT, GUNTUR, PIN 522004. 4. THE SOCIETY FOR ELIMINATION OF RURAL POVERTY SERP, NTR BHAVAN, VIJAYAWADA, KRISHNA DISTRICT, REPRESENTED BY ITS CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER, PIN 520001. 5. THE MANDAL PARISHAD DEVELOPMENT OFFICER, VATTICHERUKURU MANDAL, GUNTUR DISTRICT. PIN 522212. 6. THE KARAMPUDIPADU GRAM PANCHAYAT, VATTICHERUKURU MANDAL, GUNTUR DISTRICT, REPRESENTED BY ITS PANCHAYAT SECRETARY, PIN 522212. ...RESPONDENT(S): Petition under Article 226 of the Constitution of India praying that in the circumstances stated in the affidavit filed therewith, the High SRK, J W.P.No.21613 of 2026 2 Court may be pleased to issue order, writ or direction more particularly one in the nature of Writ of Mandamus declaring the action of the respondents in stop paying Old Age pension even though the petitioner satisfied and is eligible under the guidelines issued in G.O.Ms. No. 174 Panchayat Raj and Rural Development (RD.I) Department dated 13.12.2019 from May 2026, as illegal, arbitrary and violative of Articles 14 and 21 of the Constitution of India and consequently direct the Respondents to pay arrears of the Old Age Pension to the Petitioner herein from may, 2026 forthwith and continue to pay the same for every month and pass orders or any other orders as this Hon’ble Court may be deemed fit in the interest of justice 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 Respondents to pay forthwith pay pending Old Age Pension to the Petitioner from May 2026 including continuation of payment for subsequent months, pending disposal of the writ petition Counsel for the Petitioner: 1. RAVI CHANDAVARAPU Counsel for the Respondent(S): 1. GP FOR PANCHAYAT RAJ RURAL DEV 2. GP FOR REVENUE The Court made the following: SRK, J W.P.No.21613 of 2026 3 O R D E R Heard the learned counsel for the petitioner, learned Assistant Government Pleader for Panchayat Raj and Rural Development, learned Assistant Government Pleader for Revenue, learned Standing Counsel for Society for Elimination of Rural Poverty (SERP), learned Standing Counsel for Gram Panchayat, and the learned Standing Counsel for District Rural Development Agency (DRDA). 2. This Writ Petition is filed seeking the following relief: “….to issue an appropriate Writ, Order or direction more particularly one in the nature of Writ of Mandamus, declaring the action of the respondents in stop paying Old Age Pension even though the petitioner satisfied and is eligible under the guidelines issued in G.O.Ms.No.174, Panchayat Raj and Rural Development (RD.I) Department, dated 13.12.2019 from May, 2026, as illegal, arbitrary and violative of Articles 14 and 21 of the Constitution of India, and consequently, direct the respondents to pay arrears of the Old Age Pension to the petitioner herein from May, 2026 forthwith and continue to pay the same for every month and pass orders or any other orders …” 3. Grievance of the petitioner is that, the petitioner is resident of Karampudipadu Village, Vatticherukuru Mandal, Guntur District, and was eking out his livelihood by doing coolie work. The Government of Andhra Pradesh issued G.O.Ms.No.174, Panchayat Raj and Rural Development (RD.I) Department, dated 13.12.2019, prescribing the eligibility criteria for grant of Social Security Pensions. SRK, J W.P.No.21613 of 2026 4 The petitioner satisfies all the eligibility conditions prescribed therein. But, without issuing prior notice, without conducting any inquiry, and affording an opportunity of hearing, or assigning any reason, the respondents abruptly stopped payment of Old Age Pension to the petitioner with effect from May, 2026. Aggrieved by the said action, the petitioner made a representation dated 01.07.2026 requesting for restoration of the said pension, but no action was taken to that effect. Hence, the Writ Petition. 4. Today, when the matter has come up before this Court, learned Standing Counsel for Gram Panchayat, on written instructions received from the Mandal Parishad Development Officer, Vatticherukuru Mandal, Guntur District-5th respondent, submits that after verification of the relevant records, the competent authority issued Proceedings vide Rc.No.35/2026, dated 26.06.2026, declaring that the petitioner was not eligible for Old Age Social Security Pension under the said Government Order, on the ground that the petitioner was holding more than Ac.3.00 cents of wetland, and therefore, he did not satisfy the eligibility criteria prescribed under Rule 1 Clause (c) of the guidelines issued under G.O.Ms.No.174, dated 13.12.2019. He further submits that the said Government Order specifically prescribes that the total land holding of the family should be less than Ac.3.00 SRK, J W.P.No.21613 of 2026 5 cents of wetland. Subsequently, it has come up to know that the petitioner sold Ac.1.00 cents of land, and consequent upon such sale, his landholding came within the prescribed eligibility limit. Upon subsequent verification, the petitioner was found eligible for the Old Age Social Security Pension with effect from 15.07.2026. Learned Standing Counsel further submits that the petitioner, thereafter, submitted a grievance through the PGRS, seeking payment of arrears of pension, and on receipt of the said grievance, the Mandal Parishad Development Officer, Vatticherukuru Mandal addressed a letter to 2nd respondent i.e. the Project Director, District Rural Development Agency (DRDA), Guntur, seeking necessary clarification/instructions regarding the claim of arrears. The written instructions are placed on record. 5. Recording the said submission, since it has been categorically stated that the petitioner was found eligible for the Old Age Social Security Pension with effect from 15.07.2026, and pursuant to grievance application made by the petitioner through PGRS, seeking payment of arrears of pension, the Mandal Parishad Development Officer, Vatticherukuru Mandal has already addressed a letter to 2nd respondent i.e. the Project Director, District Rural Development Agency (DRDA), Guntur, seeking necessary SRK, J W.P.No.21613 of 2026 6 clarification/instructions regarding the claim of arrears, the respondent authorities are directed to dispose of, the grievance application of the petitioner as expeditiously as possible, possibly, within a period of four (04) weeks from the date of receipt of copy of the order and act upon in accordance with law. 6. Accordingly, the Writ Petition is disposed of. There shall be no order as to costs of the Writ Petition. As a sequel thereto, the miscellaneous applications, if any, pending in this Writ Petition, shall stand closed. JUSTICE K. SREENIVASA REDDY 11th August, 2026. DNB Whether the Order is: Speaking ✓ Reasoned Reportable Non-reportable ✓