Kareti Ramanababu Yadav v. The State

Assistant Beat Officer, Srikakulam Division, Srikakulam District, A.P. Late Satyam, aged about 59 Tekkali Range Ampalam Beat, V

7. VontedduSreenatha Reddy, S/o. Rama Linga Reddy, aged about 57 Polatala Beat, Vempalli Range, Kadapa years Assistant Beat Officer, Division, Y.S.R. KadapaDistrict, A.P.

8. BonthalaVenkateshwarlu, Assistant Beat Officer, S/o. Mallaiah, years. Velugodu West Beat, Velugodu Range, 55 Atmakuru Division, Nandyal District, A.P AND

1. The State Environment, of Andhra Pradesh, Science Forests, Rep. Secretariat, Velagapudi, Amaravathi. ...PETITIONERS Principal Technology Secretary, Department,

2. The State of Andhra Pradesh, Rep. by its Principal Secretary Finance Department, Secretariat, Velagapudi, Amaravathi.

3. The Principal Chief Conservator of AranyaBhavan, P.V.S. Landmark, Near APIIC Towers Guntur District, A.P. Forests Forest Department Mangalagiri,

4. The Chief Conservator of Forests Guntur Circle, Guntur, Guntur District, A.P.

5. The Chief Conservator of Forests, Rajahmundry Circle Central Jail Road, AnnapoornammaPeta Rajahmahendravaram, East Godavari District, A.P

6. The Chief Conservator of Forests AnantapuramCircle, Adimurthy Nagar, Gulzarpet, Ananthapur, Ananthapur District, A.P. 7. The Chief Conservator of Forests, VisakhapatnamCircle Vutagedda Road, Pandurangapuram, Visakhapatnam, Visakhapatnam District, A.P.

8. The Chief Conservator of Forests, Kurnool Circle R.S. Road, Kurnool Kurnool District, A.P.

9. The District Forest Officer, Suryanarayanapuram, Kakinada, Kakinada District, A.P. ►

10. The District Forest Officer, Adimurthy Nagar, Gulzarpet Ananthapur District, A.P. . Ananthapur,

11. The District Forest Officer, Meher Nagar, Srikakulam, Srikakulam District, A.P.

12. The District Forest Officer, Nagarajupeta District, A.P. Kadapa, Y.S.R. Kadapa

13. The District Forest Officer, Bommalasatram, Nandyal, Nandyal District A.P. ...RESPONDENTS 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 any Writ, Order or Direction more particularly one in the nature of Writ of Mandamus declaring the action of the Respondent authorities in non-regularizing the Petitioners in their respective posts even though the Petitioners are eligible for regularization by fulfilling the conditions prescribed in A.P. Regularization of Services of Contract Employees Act, 2023 and not including the Petitioners names in the regularization'-list i' 16.03.2024 which was extended to other contract employees who appointed along with the Petitioners and regularized in their services as iilegal, arbitrary, discriminatory and in violation of Article 14, 16, 19 and 21 of the Constitution of India and against the A.P. Regularization Services of Contract Employees Act, 2023 and G.O.Ms.No.114 dated 21.10.2023 and direct the Respondent authorities to regularize G.O.Ms.No.114 dated 21.10.2023 in pursuance of G.O.Ms.No. 22 dated services of the Petitioners in their respective posts on date of 16.03.2024 which joined service along with the Petitioners by considering their long length years of service as per the Hon ble Apex Court judgment Of Karnataka and Ors. was extended to other contract employees who in Secretary, State vs. Uma Devi and Ors. dated 10.04.2006 of 16 with all service emoluments including payment of promotional benefits. arrears, seniority and other lA NO: 1 OF 9n9A 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 to pass an interim order by directing the Respondent authorities written representation dated 16.07.2024 submitted disposal of the above writ petition. Petitioners, until to consider the by the lA NO: 1 OF 2Q2fi Petition under Section 151 CPC praying that in the circumstances stated in the affidavit filed in support of the petition I, the High Court may be pleased to pass an order by directing the Respondent authorities to continue the services of the Petitioner No.6 in the post of Assistant Beat Officer upto the age of 62 years. Counsel for the Petitioners; SRI SRINIVASA RAO NARRA Counsel for the Respondent Nos.1 to 13: GP FOR SERVICES I The Court made the following order: APHC010495462024 IN THE HIGH COURT OF ANDHRA PRADESH AT AMARAVATI (Special Original Jurisdiction) [3460] MONDAY, THE EIGHTH DAY OF SEPTEMBER TWO THOUSAND AND TWENTY FIVE PRESENT THE HONOURABEE SRI JUSTICE NYAPATHY VIJAY WRIT PETITION NO: 25700/2024 Between:

1.KARETI RAMANABABU YADAV, S/0. VEN KATES WARLU, OFFICE OF AGED ABOUT 59 CONSERVATOR OF FORESTS, GUNTUR CIRCLE, GUNTUR, GUNTUR DISTRICT, A.P., DRIVER, YEARS, ABOUT

2.YANNAMREDDYBABURAO S/0. Y. VENKATRAO, AGED 56 YEARS. FOREST BEAT OFFICER, RANGE, PERIKIVALASABEAT, RAMPACHODAVARAM DIVISION, KAKINADA DISTRICT, A.P. ADDATHEEGALA

3.GARADALA RAMA MOHAN, S/0. VENKATARAMAIAH, AGED OFFICER, ABOUT SINGANAMALA SECTION, ANANTHAPURAM RANGE, ANANTHAPURAM DISTRICT, A.P. ASSISTANT ANANTHAPURAM YEARS. BEAT, BEAT 53 YEARS.

4.DASATHIMMAPPA,, S/0. LATE PULLAIAH, AGED ABOUT 53 OFFICER, RANGE, DISTRICT, GOOTY ANANTHAPURAM JAKKALACHERUVUBEAT, ANANTHAPURAMDIVISION, A.P. ASSISTANTBEAT

5.VARAKALA CHANDRASEKHAR, LATE VENKATASWAMY, AGED ABOUT 58 YEARS. ASSISTANT BEAT RANGE, ANANTHAPURAMDIVISION, ANANTHAPURAM DISTRICT, A.P YADIKIBEAT, OFFICER, GOOTY S/0. 2

6.SARIPALLIVENKATARAMANA MURTHY, S/0. LATE SATYAM AGED ABOUT 59 YEARS, ASSISTANT BEAT OFFICER AMPALAM BEAT, TEKKALI RANGE, SRIKAKULAM DIVISION SRIKAKULAM DISTRICT, A.P.

7.VONTEDDUSREENATHA REDDY, S/0. RAMA LINGA REDDY ASSISTANT BEAT OFFICEr’ KADAPA DIVISION AGED ABOUT 57 YEARS POLATALA BEAT, VEMPALLI RANGE, Y.S.R. KADAPADISTRICT, A.P.

8.BONTHALAVENKATESHWARLU, "S/O. ABOUT VELUGODU WEST BEAT, VELUGODU RANGE DIVISION, NANDYAL DISTRICT, A.P., MALLAIAH, AGED 55 YEARS. ASSISTANT BEAT OFFICER ATMAKURU ...PETITIONER(S) AND

1. THE STATE OF ANDHRA PRADESH SECRETARY, AND PRINCIPAL SCIENCE SECRETARIAT, VELAGAPUDI, AMARAVATHI. TECHNOLOGY ENVIRONMENT, BY REP. ITS FORESTS, DEPARTMENT,

2. THE STATE OF ANDHRA PRINCIPAL SECRETARY, SECRETARIAT, VELAGAPUDI, AMARAVATHI. PRADESH, FINANCE REP. BY ITS DEPARTMENT

3. THE PRINCIPAL CHIEF CONSERVATOR OF FORESTS, PVS MANGALAGIRI FOREST DEPARTMENT, LANDMARK, NEAR APIIC TOWERS, GUNTUR DISTRICT, A.P. ARANYABHAVAN,

4. THE CHIEF CONSERVATOR OF FORESTS, GUNTUR CIRCLE, GUNTUR, GUNTUR DISTRICT, A.P. ^

5. THE CHIEF CONSERVATOR OF FORESTS RAJAHMUNDRY CIRCLE, CENTRAL JAIL ROAD, ANNAPOORNAMMAPETA RAJAHMAHENDRAVARAM, EAST GODAVARI DISTRICT, A.P., [ y 3

6. THE CHIEF ANANTAPURAMCIRCLE, GULZARPET, A.P., CONSERVATOR FORESTS, NAGAR, ANANTHAPUR, ANANTHAPUR DISTRICT, ADIMURTHY OF

7. THE CHIEF CONSERVATOR VISAKHAPATNAMCIRCLE PANDURANGAPURAM, VISAKHAPATNAM DISTRICT, A.P., VUTAGEDDA OF FORESTS, ROAD, VISAKHAPATNAM,

8. THE CHIEF CONSERVATOR OF FORESTS, KURNOOL CIRCLE, R.S. ROAD, KURNOOL, KURNOOL DISTRICT, A.P.,

9. THE DISTRICT SURYANARAYANAPURAM, DISTRICT, A.P., FOREST KAKINADA, OFFICER, KAKINADA

10.THE DISTRICT FOREST OFFICER, ADIMURTHY NAGAR, ANANTHAPUR, ANANTHAPUR DISTRICT, GULZARPET, A.P..

11.THE DISTRICT FOREST OFFICER, MEHER NAGAR, SRIKAKULAM, SRIKAKULAM DISTRICT, A.P.,

12.THE DISTRICT FOREST OFFICER, NAGARAJUPETA, KADAPA, Y.S.R. KADAPA DISTRICT, A.P.,

13.THE DISTRICT FOREST OFFICER, BOMMALASATRAM, NANDYAL, NANDYAL DISTRICT, A.P., ...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 any Writ, Order or Direction more particularly one in the nature of Writ of Mandamus declaring the action of the Respondent authorities in non-regularizing the Petitioners in their respective posts even though the Petitioners are eligible for regularization A.P. Regularization conditions Contract fulfilling Services Employees prescribed Act, 2023 4 G.O.Ms.No.114 dated 21.10.2023 and not including the Petitioners names in the regularization list in pursuance of G.O.Ms.No.22 dated and 16.03.2024 which was extended to other contract employees who appointed along with the Petitioners and regularized in their services as illegal, arbitrary, discriminatory and in violation of Article 14, 16, 19 and 21 of the Constitution of India and against the A.P. Regularization Services of Contract Employees Act, 2023 and G.O.Ms.No.114 dated 21.10.2023 and direct regularize services of the Petitioners in their respective posts as on date of 16.03.2024 which was extended to other contract employees who joined service along with the Petitioners by considering their long length of 16 years of service as per the Hon’ble Apex Court judgment State of Karnataka and Ors. vs. Uma Devi and Ors. in Secretary, dated 10.04.2006 with all service emoluments including payment of arrears, seniority and other promotional benefits and pass such other order. the Respondent authorities lA NO: 1 OF 2024 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 to pass an interim order by directing the Respondent authorities to consider the written representation dated 16.07.2024 submitted by the Petitioners, until disposal of the above writ petition and pass such other order. lA NO: 1 OF 2025 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 to pass an order by directing the Respondent authorities to continue the services of the Petitioner No.6 in the post of Assistant Beat Officer upto the age of 62 years and pass such other order. !■ r" 5 Counsel for the Petltioner(S):

1.SRINIVASA RAO NARRA Counsel for the Respondent(S):

1.GP FOR SERVICES I The Court made the following: V ORDER: THE HONOURABLE SRI JUSTICE NYAPATHY VIJAY WRIT PETITION No.25700 OF 2024

1. The present Writ Petition questioning action Respondent authorities regularizing Petitioners respective posts prescribed in A.P. Regularization of Services of Contract Employees Act, 2023 and G.O.Ms.No.114, dated 21.10.2023 and not including the names of the Petitioners in regularization list, as illegal and arbitrary.

2. Petitioner No.1 and Petitioners Nos.2 to 8 were initially appointed Driver and Assistant Beat Officers respectively Forest Department in sanctioned posts on contract basis in the years 2004 to 2008 and the same was being extended from time to time. While so, an Act was issued “Andhra Pradesh Regularization of Services of Contract Employees Act, 2023 (in “the Act”) provided regularization of Contract Employees as per Chapter-11 thereof, certain conditions have been prescribed for regularization. One of the conditions imposed that Section 3(2) of “the Act” states that the persons, who have been appointed on contract basis as on 02.06.2014 and should be continuing as on the date of commencement of the Act are entitled for regularization. Chapter-11 Regularization of Services Persons appointed on contract basis, wherein Section 3 of ‘the Act’ reads as under: 2 \ 'V

3. Notwithstanding anything contained in any law/ Rule/ Notification/ Government order for the time being in force, the persons appointed on contract basis, shall be regularized, subject to fulfillment of the following conditions. (1) Regularization shall be applicable to the persons appointed on contract basis in the Government Departments only. (2) The persons should have been appointed contract basis as on 2"^ June 2014 and should be continuing as on the date of the commencement of this Act. (3) (4) (5) contract appointment i/vas relating to: The regularization shall be of a person appointed on initial in due compliance with the procedure considered, (i) Selection Process; (ii) Rule of reservation; (Hi) Eligibility, prescribed for the post; & educational qualifications (iv) Notification of Vacancies. (6) The regularization shall be only, against, clear vacancies after duly excluding the vacancies notified by the recruitment bodies such as Andhra Pradesh Public Service Commission (APPSC), Andhra Pradesh State Level Police Recruitment Board (APSLPRB) etc.. ^' 3 t r 4»^ ‘>4

3. Learned counsel for the Petitioners would further submit that the proposals were sent by Principal Chief Conservator of Forests for regularization 195 contract employees, working Forest Department as on 02.06.2014 and still working as on 21.10.2023. As per G.O.Ms.No.22, dated

16.03.2024, the Government regularized 119 contractual employees, leaving the balance of 3*2 employees. The reason for non-consideration of the Petitioners’ case for regularization was on account of non-furnishing of latest Caste Certificates by the Petitioners. In the proposals sent by the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests for the second time on 07.02.2025 for regularization of 32 individuals, the names of the Petitioners were also included. It is on this ground that the Petitioners are questioning the impugned proceedings as their case for regularization is under active consideration.

4. Learned Assistant GovernmentPleader for the Respondentswould contend that the Petitioners are not entitled for continuing beyond

31.07.2025 as they were not regularized as on date. It was contended that as per G.O.Ms.No.15, dated 31.01.2022, the Andhra Pradesh Public Employment Regulation of Age of Superannuation Act, 1984 was amended by enhancing the age from 60 to 62 years would not apply to the case of the Petitioners. l9 4

5. Having heard the respective counsel and considering the fact that the issue of regularization of the Petitioners is under active consideration by the Government, the Petitioners would have to face hardship, in the event, regularization is with effect from 31.07.2025.

6. In that view, this Court is inclined to dispose of the Writ Petition with following directions; (i) The Petitioners shall continue in their respective posts till the Respondent No.1 decides on the aspect of regularization of the Petitioners; (ii) The Government take decision for regularization of the Petitioners or till as was paid Petitioners salary attaining age of 62 years; (iii) No order as to costs.

8. With the above directions, the Writ Petition is disposed of. As a sequel, miscellaneous applications pending, if any, shall stand closed. To, //TRUE COPY// Sd/- K. TATA RAO DEPUTY REGISTRAR 5^- SECTION OFFICER

1. The Principal Secretary, Technology Velagapudi, Amaravathi. Department, Environment, Forests, Science State of Andhra Pradesh, Secretariat,

2. The Principal Secretary, Finance Department, State of Andhra Pradesh, Secretariat, Velagapudi, Amaravathi.

3. The Principal Chief Conservator of AranyaBhavan, P.V.S. Landmark Guntur District, A.P. Forests, Near APIIC Towers, Forest Department, Mangalagiri, L

4. The Chief Conservator of Forests, Guntur Circle, Guntur, Guntur District, A.P.

5. The Chief Conservator of Forests, Rajahmundry Circle Central Jail Rajahmahendravaram, East Godavari Road, AnnapoornammaPeta, District, A.P

6. The Chief Conservator of Forests, AnantapuramCircle, Nagar, Gulzarpet, Ananthapur, Ananthapur District, A.P. 7. The Chief Conservator of Forests, VisakhapatnamCircle, Adimurthy Vutagedda Visakhapatnam, Visakhapatnam District Road, Pandurangapuram, A.P.

8. The Chief Conservator of Forests, Kurnool Circle, R.S. Road, Kurnool Kurnool District, A.P.

9. The District Forest Officer, Suryanarayanapuram, Kakinada Kakinada District, A.P.

10. The District Forest Officer, Adimurthy Nagar, Gulzarpet, Ananthapur, Ananthapur District, A.P.

11. The District Forest Officer, Meher Nagar, Srikakulam Srikakulam District, A.P.

12. The District Forest Officer, Nagarajupeta, Kadapa Y.S.R. Kadapa District, A.P.

13. The District Forest Officer, Bommalasatram, Nandyal, Nandyal District A.P.

14. One CC to Sri Srinivasa Rao Narra, Advocate [OPUC] 15. Two CCs to GP for Services-I, High Court of Andhra 16. Two CD Copies. Pradesh [OUT] r \ HIGH COURT DATED:08/09/2025 ORDER WP No. 25700 OF 2024 )%] g( 2 0 SEP 2025 ^^^NsQurrent Sectiopx^^ DISPOSING OF THE W.P. WITHOUT COSTS