Andhra Pradesh High Court
WP/18481/2026 of Kolla Gopala Ratna Kumari, Vs The State of Andhra Pradesh, on 8 July 2026
for orders : --- Date of pronouncement : 09.07.2026 Date of uploading : APHC010346092026 IN THE HIGH COURT OF ANDHRA PRADESH AT AMARAVATI (Special Original Jurisdiction) [3460] THURSDAY, THE 9th DAY OF JULY 2026 PRESENT THE HONOURABLE SRI JUSTICE NYAPATHY VIJAY WRIT PETITION NO: 18481/2026
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Date of pronouncement
: 09.07.2026
Date of uploading
:
APHC010346092026
IN THE HIGH COURT OF ANDHRA PRADESH
AT AMARAVATI
(Special Original Jurisdiction)
THURSDAY, THE 9th DAY OF JULY 2026
PRESENT
THE HONOURABLE SRI JUSTICE NYAPATHY VIJAY
WRIT PETITION NO: 18481/2026
Between:
1. KOLLA GOPALA RATNA KUMARI,, D/O NAGIBABU, AGED, 44
YEARS, OCC PHARMACY OFFICER (PHARMACIST GR-II) ON
CONTRACT BASIS, GOVT. GENERAL HOSPITAL, KAKINADA.
2. K.N.R.KUMARI,, D/O. K.NARASIMHAM, AGED 44 YEARS, OCC
PHARMACY OFFICER ( PHARMACIST GR-II) ON CONTRACT
BASIS, GOVT. GENERAL HOSPITAL, KAKINADA.
...PETITIONER(S)
AND
1. THE STATE OF ANDHRA PRADESH, REP BY ITS PRINCIPAL
SECRETARY, HEALTH, MEDICAL AND FAMILY WELFARE
DEPARTMENT, SECRETARIAT, VELAGAPUDI, AMARAVATHI, GUNTUR DISTRICT.522238
2. THE STATE OF ANDHRA PRADESH, REP BY ITS PRINCIPAL
SECRETARY, FINANCE AND PLANNING, DEPARTMENT, SECRETARIAT, VELAGAPUDI, AMARAVATHI, GUNTUR
DISTRICT.522238
3. THE DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE, STATE OF A.P., CHUTTUGUNTA, ELURU ROAD, VIJAYAWADA,
KRISHNA DISTRICT.520004
4. THE DIRECTOR OF MEDICAL EDUCATION OF AP, OLD GOVT.
GENERAL
HOSPITAL
PREMISES,
HANUMANPET,
VIJAYAWADA, KRISHNA DISTRICT.520003
5. THE
SUPERINTENDENT,
GOVT.
GENERAL
HOSPITAL,
KAKINADA DISTRICT AT KAKINADA.533001
...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 tomay be to issue a Writ, order or direction more particularly one in the nature of Writ of Mandamus declaring the action of the respondents herein, in not regularizing the petitioners services as Pharmacy Officer (Pharmacist Gr-II) on par with other contract employees, whose services were regularized as per the guidelines issued vide G.O.Ms.No.114, Finance (HR-I Plg.and Policy) Department, dated 21-10-2023 following the AP Regularization of Services of Contract Employees Act, 2023 ( Act.No.30 of 2023), dated 20-10-2023 as highly illegal, arbitrary, discrimination and also in voilative Article 14, 16 and 21
of r Constitution of India and consequentially the Honble Court may pleased to declare that the petitioners herein are also entitle for regularization of their services as Pharmacy Officer (Pharmacist Gr-II) on par with others Contract employees w.e.f. 1-4-2024, with all consequential benefits and may pass such 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 may be pleased to direct the respondents herein to consider the petitioners claim for regularization of services in the cadre of Pharmacy Officer (Pharmacist Gr-II) on par with others Contract employees, as per the guidelines issued vide G.O.Ms.No.114, Finance (HR-I Plg.and Policy) Department, dated 21-10- 2023, pending disposal of the present writ petition and may pass such Counsel for the Petitioner(S):
1. M R TAGORE
Counsel for the Respondent(S):
1. GP FOR SERVICES I
The Court made the following:
WRIT PETITION No.18481 of 2026
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ORDER:
1. The present Writ Petition is filed to declare the action of the Respondents in not regularizing the services of the Petitioners in the cadre of Pharmacy Officer (Pharmacist Grade - II) as per the guidelines issued for regularization of contractual services, vide G.O.Ms.No.114, Finance (HR-I Plg.and Policy) Department, dated 21.10.2023, as illegal and arbitrary.
2. The Petitioners were appointed as Pharmacy Officer (Pharmacist Grade - II) on contract basis issued by the DGM & HS & Chairman, Para Medical Recruitment Committee pursuant to a Public Notification, dated 26.02.2001. The Petitioners were selected and appointed through open process and had completed more than two decades of service in the Respondent-Department in the same cadre.
3. While so, the Respondent No.1 issued G.O.Ms. No. 114, Finance (HR-I Plg & Policy) Department, dated 21.10.2023, based on the Andhra Pradesh Regularization of Services of Contract Employees Act, 2023 (for short, ‘Act, 2023’), proposing to regularize the services of the contract employees vis-à-vis the clear vacancies existing as of 02.06.2014, where under regularization of individuals appointed on a contract basis was to be considered provided that the initial appointment was in due compliance with the procedure relating to (i) Notification of Vacancies, (ii) Selection Process, and (iii) Rule of Reservation and eligibility, age, and Educational Qualifications prescribed for the post. The Petitioners claim for regularization in terms of the above Act, 2023. Hence, the present Writ Petition is filed.
4. Learned Counsel for the Petitioners relies upon a Judgment of this Court in W.P.No.8827 of 2024 and batch in support of his contentions, wherein similarly placed employees were directed to be considered for regularization.
5. Sri S. Raju, learned Assistant Government Pleader, submits that the cases of the Petitioners for regularization are under active consideration at Government level and therefore, he contends that the present Writ Petition is premature.
6. Having heard the respective counsel and considering the Judgment of this Court in W.P.No.8827 of 2024, the present Writ Petition is disposed of with the following direction:
(i) The Respondent-Authorities are directed to consider the case of the Petitioners for regularization in terms of the Act 30 of 2023 on par with other contract employees as expeditiously as possible.
(ii) . No order as to costs.
7. As a sequel, miscellaneous petitions, pending if any, shall stand closed. ________________________ JUSTICE NYAPATHY VIJAY
Date: 09.07.2026 chs Whether the order is: Speaking ✔ Reasoned
Reportable
Non-reportable ✔
WRIT PETITION No.18481 of 2026 Dated:09.07.2026
chs