G SREEKANTH vs M/O HOME AFFAIRS on 15 October 2026

CENTRAL ADMINISTRATIVE TRIBUNAL HYDERABAD (TELANGANA) NO. 5-10-193, 1ST FLOOR, HACA BHAVAN,HYDERABAD - 500004 Order Sheet Item no.: 5 C.P./27/2026 (ANDHRA PRADESH) [ CONTEMPT PETITION ] In O.A./64/2021 PROMOTION With Court No.: 3 No of Adjournment: 4 Order Dated: 15/10/2026 G SREEKANTH Vs M/O HOME AFFAIRS

For Applicant(s) Advocate : PARAPATHI MANASA REDDY

For Respondent(s) Advocate : V VINOD KUMAR, G V L MURTHY, M NAGARAJU Order of The Tribunal Learned counsel for the official respondents has requested for seeking exepmtion on the ground that the learned Chief Secretary, Andhra Pradesh is unable to attend the proceedings physically, today, before this Tribunal today i.e. on 15.10.2026, for the reasons stated which are reproduced as follows:- “10. I respectfully submit that, being the Chief Secretary to the Government of Andhra Pradesh. I am the head of the State administrative machinery and am required to personally oversee and coordinate the arrangements connected with the visit of the Hon'ble President of India. The duties and responsibilities connected with the visit of the Hon'ble President of India are of an exceptional and time-bound nature and require the personal presence, supervision and coordination of the Chief Secretary at various stages of the programme.

11. I respectfully submit that the said official commitments are pre- scheduled, unavoidable and directly connected with the visit of the Hon'ble President of India to the State. In view of the constitutional status of the visiting dignitary and the nature of the responsibilities entrusted to the Chief Secretary, it is not practically possible for the deponent to absent himself from the State-level arrangements on 15.10.2026.

12. I respectfully submit that the circumstances necessitating my presence in connection with the Hon'ble President's visit are wholly official and beyond my personal control. My inability to appear before this Hon'ble Tribunal on the said date is therefore due to bona fide and unavoidable official duties of the highest importance, and not due to any intention to avoid or delay the proceedings.” No doubt, the dispensation may be attributable to the visit of the Hon’ble President of India to Vijayawada. However, we are also of the considered view that we cannot lose sight of the fact that, despite several office orders issued in this regard, Office Order dated 17.08.2026, particularly Paragraph 3 thereof, specifically provides as follows:- “Accordingly, the decision already conveyed by this Ministry vide order dated 11.06.2026 may be treated as the Ministry's considered view on the issue of relaxation under Rule 3/Regulation 5(2). Further action regarding eligibility for earlier Select List(s) may be taken by the State Government in 1 consultation with UPSC, in accordance with the statutory provisions and the directions of the Hon'ble CAT.” It is pertinent to note that more than three months have elapsed since the issuance of the aforesaid communication, yet no steps appear to have been taken by the learned Chief Secretary concerned in this regard. It is further relevant to note that, even prior to the aforesaid communication, a letter dated 11.08.2026 had been addressed to the Secretary, the contents of which are reproduced hereinbelow:- “3. In this regard, it is to inform that the Hon'ble CAT, Hyderabad Bench, in its order dated 16.03.2026 in OA No.020/64/2021, particularly in paragraph 18(b), directed the competent authority to duly invoke and apply Rule 3 of the AIS (Conditions of Service Residuary Matters) Rules, 1960, and consider relaxation of Regulation 5(2) of the IPS (Appointment by Promotion) Regulations, 1955, as prayed for by the applicant, in accordance with law.

4. I am therefore to request you to examine the matter and take a considered decision regarding invocation of Rule 3 of the AIS (Conditions of Service - Residuary Matters) Rules, 1960 and relaxation of Regulation 5(2) of the IPS (Appointment by Promotion) Regulations, 1955, in compliance with the directions of the Hon'ble CAT, Hyderabad Bench. The decision of the Ministry may kindly be communicated to the State Government at an early date, to enable the State Government to take further necessary action.” We fail to understand the manner in which the case of the applicant has been dealt with, particularly with regard to compliance with the order dated 16.03.2026, which, by no stretch of imagination, can be treated as a matter of mere indulgence. In view of the submissions made by the learned counsel appearing on behalf of the Chief Secretary, seeking exemption from personal appearance for today alone, we grant one last and final opportunity to strictly comply with the directions issued by this Court. We make it clear that, in the event the order dated 16.03.2026 is not implemented within a period of four weeks from today; the Chief Secretary shall remain physically present before this Court on the next date of hearing. It is expected that the learned Chief Secretary shall take due note of Paragraph 3 of the Office Communication dated 17.08.2026 and depute a senior officer to coordinate with the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) and take all necessary steps to ensure compliance with the aforesaid order within the stipulated period of four weeks. Re-notify the matter on 20.11.2026.

Varun Sindhu Kul Kaumudi Member (A) MR MANISH GARG Member (J)

Ajay Mudgal ( steno 'd' )