APHC010434932026 IN THE HIGH COURT OF ANDHRA PRADESH AT AMARAVATI (Special Original Jurisdiction) [3460] MONDAY, THE 31st DAY OF AUGUST 2026 PRESENT THE HONOURABLE SRI JUSTICE NYAPATHY VIJAY WRIT PETITION NO: 23623/2026 Between: S K Abdul Raheem ...PETITIONER AND The State Of Andhra Pradesh and Others ...RESPONDENT(S) Counsel for the Petitioner: 1. S SRINIVASA RAO Counsel for the Respondent(S): 1. GP FOR SERVICES IV The Court made the following: 2 THE HONOURABLE SRI JUSTICE NYAPATHY VIJAY WRIT PETITION No.23623 of 2026 ORDER: The present Writ Petition is filed challenging the non- consideration of the qualification acquired by the Petitioner through the Institution of Civil Engineers (India) as an Associate Membership (AMICE(I)) in Civil Engineering as equivalent to a Degree in Civil Engineering for the purpose of promotion to the post of Executive Engineer as illegal and arbitrary. 2. The Petitioner is working as Deputy Executive Engineer at Chilakaluripet Municipality. While in service, the Petitioner pursued Associate Membership in Civil Engineering through AMICE(I) and passed Sections A and B of the AMICE(I) Civil Engineering Examination held in Winter 2014, with Membership No. 77192. It is stated that the said qualification is equivalent to a Degree in Civil Engineering. 3. In Institution of Mechanical Engineers (INDIA) through its Chairman v. State of Punjab and others1, the Hon‟ble Supreme Court was considering the correctness of the judgment of the Punjab and Haryana High Court holding that the Certificate issued by AMICE is not equivalent to a Degree in Civil Engineering. The Hon‟ble Supreme Court, after considering the 3 relevant provisions, upheld the Order of the Punjab and Haryana High Court while giving an exception insofar as the students enrolled prior to 31.05.2013 were concerned. The relevant portion of the Order is extracted hereunder: “ In the circumstances, we do make an exception in favour of such candidates enrolled up to 31.05.2013 and declare that the conclusions drawn in the present matter will apply after 01.06.2013. The Certificate awarded by the Appellant to such candidates enrolled up to 31.05.2013 shall be considered equivalent to a degree in Mechanical Engineering for the purpose of employment in the Central Government”. 4. Apart from that, this Court in Writ Petition Nos.17613 of 2019, 5295 of 2024, 25122 of 2023 and 26314 of 2023 had passed orders directing the Respondent Authorities that the Certificates issued by the AMICE insofar as the students enrolled prior to 31.05.2013 as equivalent to Engineering Degree. In the present case, the Petitioner is said to be enrolled in the year 2012 with Membership No.77192 and was qualified in the examination of „A and B of Associate Membership‟ held in Winter 2014. As the Petitioner is enrolled prior to the cut of date, the qualification of the Petitioner would have to be treated as equivalent to Engineering Degree. 5. Accordingly, the present Writ Petition is disposed of with the following directions: 1 (2019) 16 SCC 95 4 i) The Respondents shall consider the qualification of the Petitioner issued by the Institution of Civil Engineers ( India) dated 15.09.2016 as equivalent to a Degree in Civil Engineering for the purpose of promotion to the post of Executive Engineer. ii) There shall be no order to costs. As a sequel, miscellaneous petitions, pending if any, shall stand closed. ________________________ JUSTICE NYAPATHY VIJAY Date: 31.08.2026 eha 5 THE HONOURABLE SRI JUSTICE NYAPATHY VIJAY WRIT PETITION No.23623 of 2026 Dated: 31.08.2026 eha