High Court · 2025

Petition under Article 226 oI lhe Constitution of lndia 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 a Writ of Mandamus by declaring that the Petitioners are entitled to have their claims considered and be promoled as Agricultural Officers basing on the placements assigned to them in the final seniority lists of Agricultural Extension Officers Grade-l and ll duly preparing year-wise panels in accordance with the provisions of Rule 6 of T.S. State and Sub-ordinate Service Rules, '1996 and on the analogy of Order issued in W.P. No. 4549 ol 2024 dated 08-04-2024 in so far as promotion is concerned with benefits incidental thereto duly holding the action of the Respondents in not preparing year-wise panels as envisaged in Rule I I I 6 of the aforementioned Rules and thereby denying promotions as Agricultural Officers to the Petitioners without any legal or valid justification as being arbitrary, illegal contrary to provisions of Rule 6 and the law laid down in this regard by this Hon'ble Court and Hon ble Supreme Court of lndia and in violation of Articles 14 and 16 of Constitution of lndia. 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 direct the Respondents to consider the claim of Petitioners for promotion to the posts of Agricultural Officers keeping in view the provisions of Rule 6 of T.S State and Subordinate Service Rules, 1996 and on the ,nriogy of Order passed in W.P. No. 4549 of 2024 dated 08-04-2024 in so far as promotions are concerned. Counsel for the Petitioners: SRI V.RAVICHANDRAN Counsel for the Res;pondents: GP FOR AGRTCULTURE The Court made the, following: ORDER THE HONOURABLE SRI JUSTICE NAGESH BHEEMAPAKA WRIT PETITION No.11631 of 2O25 ORDER: This Writ Petition is hled by the petitioners seeking the following relief: "..-to issue a Wit or order or direction, more parlianlartg a Wit of Mdndamus bg dectaing that the Petitioners are entitled to haue their clains considered and be promoted os Agriculhral OlfiLers basing on the placements assigned to them in the fi.nal senioity li,sts of Agicllltural Ertension Olrtcers Grad.e-l and II duly prepaing Aear LuAe panels in accord.ance with the prouisions of Rule 6 ofT S State and Subordinate Seruice Rutes 1996 and on the analogg of Order Lssued in W.P. No.4549 of 2024 dated 08.04.2024 in so far os promotion is concerned uith benertts incidental thereto dulg holding the action of the Respondents in not prepaing gear u,ise panels a-s enuisaged tn Rule 6 of the a,forementtoned Rules qnd therebV denAtng pronwtions as Agicultural Ofilcers to the Petitioners without anlJ legal or ualid justtfcation as being arbitrqry illegql contrary to prouisia:ns of Ru[e 6 and the law laid down in this regard bg this Honbte Court and Honble Suprerne Court of Indta and in uiolation of Artbles 14 otld 16 of Cortstitution of India and- pa-ss such other order etc..."

2. Heard Mr. V.Ravichaldran, learned counsel appearing for the petitioners and learned Government Pleader for Agriculture I i appearing for respondent Nos.1 and 2. Perused the material availabie on record.

3. The present writ petition has been filed by the petitioners seeking to declari: the action of the respondents in not promoting them to the post of Agricultural Officers, in the existing 48 vacancies, as iliegal and arbitrary.

4. Learned counsel for the petitioners submits that petitioner Nos. 1 and 2 were initially appointed as Agriculture Extension Officer 2 Gradeli in the year 20O9. Subsequently, they were promoted to the post of Agriculture Extension Ofhcer Grade-I in the year 2018 and 2019, respectively. Petitioners Nos.3 and 4 are working as Agriculture Extension Officer Grade-II. The petitioners are eligible and qualified to be considered for promotion to the post of Agricultural Ofllcers in the existing 48 vacalcies in Multi-Zones-l and II. The,grievance of the petitioners is that the respondents have failed to finalize the seniority list and effect promotions for the reasons that appear to be extraneous. It is further submitted that the petitioners allege that the delay in fiializir.g the seniority list and promoting Agriculture Extension Ofhcers Grade-I and II is intended to benefit direct recruits, which would ultimately place the pelitioners in a disadvantageous position.

5. Learned counsei for the petitioners further submits that the petitioners reiy on the order passed by this Court in W.P. No.4549 of 2024, wherein this Court directed the respondents to hnalize the seniority list and consider the case of the petitioners therein for promotion to the post of Agricultural Officers in accordalce wittr law with their eligibility and avaiiabilit5z of vacancies and the said exercise shall be completed within period of three (03) months from the date of receipt of a copy of this order. In view of the aforesaid decision, the petitioners herein contend that they are similarly 3 situated and thus seek the same relief. Therefore, prays that this Court may be pleased to direct the respondents to finalize the senioritSr lists and consider the promotions of the petitioners to the post of Agricultural Officers in accordance with the provisions of Rule 6 of the Telangana State and Subordinate Services Rules, 1996. Hence, the present writ petition.

6. Having considered the facts and circumstances of the case, and without going into merits of the case, the respondent authorities are hereby.directed to {inalize the senioritlr list ald consider the cases of the petitioners for promotion to the post of Agriculture Oflicers, in accordance with law based on their eligibiiity and availability of vacancies. The said exercise shall be completed within a period of three (03) months from the date of receipt of a copy of this order.

7. With the above direction, the Writ Petition is disposed of. No order as to costs. As a sequel, miscellaneous applications pending, if any, in this Writ Petition, shall stand closed. SD/- K.SREERAMA MURTHY EPUry REGISTRAR //TRUE COPY// SECTION OFFICER

1. The Principal Secretary, Agriculture and Co-operati n Department T.G Secretariat, Hyderabad, State of Telangana. Telangana, Hyderabad.

2. The Commissioner and Director of Agriculture, T.G. Government of 3. One CC to SRI V.RAVICHANDRAN, Advocate IOPUC] 4. Two CCs to GP FOR AGRICULTURE, High Court for the State of Telangana, at Hyderabad. [OUT]

5. Two CD Copies \ To W PSK. HIGH COURT DATED:2'l 10412025 ORDER WP.No.1163'l of 2025 1 rrE sTA I 7 J 02 t{AY m Z o A * D.SepATc t DISPOSING OF THE WRIT PETITION WITHOUT COSTS @ 7 l €