K Ramesh Kumar vs BSNL on 28 October 2026

ORAL ORDER

(As per Hon’ble Mr. Manish Garg, Judicial Member)

The instant O.A. is filed by the applicant, seeking the following relief: “In the above facts and circumstances, it is respectfully prayed that this Hon’ble Tribunal may be pleased to declare the action of the Respondents in treating or threatening to treat the Applicant’s occupation of BSNL Staff Quarter No. A-3, Type-II, Machavaram, Vijayawada as unauthorised, and in levying and recovering penal licence fee/penal rent at about forty times the normal licence fee without furnishing the relied-upon material, granting an effective hearing and passing a reasoned order under the applicable rules, as illegal and arbitrary; set aside the consequential eviction proceedings vide letter no. VJW BA-18/16(31)/1/2021- CFA PLG VJ/35 dated 29-10-2025, penal demand and salary deductions; direct refund or adjustment of all amounts unlawfully recovered, with applicable interest; restrain further penal recovery and coercive eviction except through due process; direct the competent authority to decide the Applicant’s representations afresh by a speaking order after supplying the relevant material and calculation; and pass such other order or orders as this Hon’ble Tribunal deems fit.”

2. Highlighting the facts of the case, learned counsel for the applicant submits that the applicant, an Administrative Officer (General) in BSNL, has resided in Staff Quarter No. A-3, Type-II, Machavaram, Vijayawada since 2014 with pet dogs, without any objection until a dispute with another resident in December 2024. Though no BSNL rule prohibits pets, the respondents treated his occupation as unauthorised and recovered penal licence fee at nearly forty times the normal rate from his salary, without furnishing the complaints, passing a speaking order or giving him a hearing, even after he removed the

DN: C=IN, O=Central Administrative Tribunal, OU=Central Administrative Tribunal Hyderabad Bench, PostalCode=500004, L=Hyderabad, S=Telangana, STREET="No. 05-10-193, 1st Floor, HACA Bhavan, Saifabad, Hyderabad", Phone=12d84631fad4985ed436f8e9bed43bf11c66dc25e028e9218a4d1d0fb79d7fe3, SERIALNUMBER=

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pets and gave an undertaking. His representations dated 30.04.2026 and 02.05.2026 remain undecided. The applicant suffers from advanced COPD and diabetic neuropathy, so the eviction and recurring deductions cause him grave hardship. The Hon’ble High Court of Andhra Pradesh, by order dated 25.06.2026 in W.P. No. 16651 of 2026, left it open to him to approach this Tribunal, and accordingly he has filed the present O.A.

3. Mrs. T. Manjula, learned Standing Counsel, appears on behalf of the respondents on receipt of advance notice and opposes the relief sought in the present O.A.

4. Considering that the representations dated 30.04.2026 and 02.05.2026 preferred by the applicant are still pending, we are of the view that the O.A. can be disposed of at the admission stage, directing the Respondents to consider and dispose of the said representations by a reasoned and speaking order within thirty (30) days from the date of receipt of a copy of this order, in accordance with law. The applicant shall also be afforded a personal hearing before the speaking order is passed.

5. The O.A. is disposed of accordingly without prejudice to the rights and contentions of either side. It is needless to mention that the merits of the case have not been gone into. Pending M.As., if any, are also disposed of. No order as to costs.

(VARUN SINDHU KUL KAUMUDI) (MANISH GARG) ADMINISTRATIVE MEMBER JUDICIAL MEMBER /pv/

DN: C=IN, O=Central Administrative Tribunal, OU=Central Administrative Tribunal Hyderabad Bench, PostalCode=500004, L=Hyderabad, S=Telangana, STREET="No. 05-10-193, 1st Floor, HACA Bhavan, Saifabad, Hyderabad", Phone=12d84631fad4985ed436f8e9bed43bf11c66dc25e028e9218a4d1d0fb79d7fe3, SERIALNUMBER=

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