WP/30715/2024 of KORRA VICTOR PRAVEEN Vs THE STATE OF ANDHRA PRADESH on 31 December 2024

1. The State of Andhra Pradesh, Represented By its Principal SecretaryPanchayat Raj and Rural Development, Department, State Of AP,Secretariat, Velagapudi, Amaravati, Guntur District,[AP.]Panchayat Raj and Rural Development, Department, State Of AP,Secretariat, Velagapudi, Amaravati, Guntur District,[AP.]

2. The District Collector (PW), Visakhapatnam District.

...RESPONDENTS

Petition under Article 226 of the Constitution of India praying that inthe circumstances stated in the affidavit filed therewith, the High Court maybe pleased to issue a Writ or Order more in the nature of Mandamusindeclaring the action of the1®* respondent in extending the suspensionordersissuedbythe2ndrespondentProcgs.No46/2024,A1dated20.04.2024,untillfurtherordersthroughMemoNo.PRROI-2643326A/ig.lll/AI/2024 dated 08.12.2024, of the1St respondent as illegalarbitrary,unjust,withoutreasonsandviolativeoftheG.O.Ms.No.22GA(SER-C) Department dated 29.02.2024, and accordingly[set][ aside][ the]1StrespondentMemoNo.PRRO1-2643326A/ig.lll/A1/2024dated08.12.2024, with a consequential direction to the respondents to reinstate the petitioner into service as Panchayat Secretary Grade V by reviewingthe suspension orders as per G.O.Ms.No.22 GA(SER-C) Department dated29.02.2024 in an outer time limit.

lA NO: 1 OF 2024

Petition under Section 151 CPC praying that in the circumstancesstated in the affidavit filed in support of the petition, the High Court may bepleased to direct the respondents to reinstate the petitioner as PanchayatSecretary Grade-V as per G.O.Ms.No.22 GA(SER-C) Department[dated]29.02.2024.

Counsel for the Petitioner: SRI K. R. SRINIVAS

Counsel for the Respondent Nos.1 & 2: GP FOR SERVICES IVThe Court made the following: ORDER

APHC010587362024IN THE HIGH COURT OF ANDHRAPRADESHiAT AMARAVATI(Special Original Jurisdiction)[3331]

TUESDAY ,THE THIRTY FIRST DAY OF DECEMBERTWO THOUSAND AND TWENTY FOUR

PRESENT

THE HONOURABLE SRI JUSTICE SUBBA REDDY SATTI

WRIT PETITION NO: 30715/2024

Between:

1. KORRAVICTORPRAVEEN,S/0.ELIAH,AGE32YEARS,PANCHAYAT SECRETARY GRADE-V,GRAMA SACHIVALAYAM,VALIMERAKA VILLAGE,PENDURTHI MANDAL, VISAKHAPATNAM,R/0OFD.NO.II44A,DESAPATRUNIPALEM,NEARST.ANN'SSCHOOL,KOTHAVALASAMANDAI,VIZIANAGARAMDISTRICT(NOW UNDER SUSPENSION)PANCHAYAT SECRETARY GRADE-V,GRAMA SACHIVALAYAM,VALIMERAKA VILLAGE,PENDURTHI MANDAL, VISAKHAPATNAM,R/0OFD.NO.II44A,DESAPATRUNIPALEM,NEARST.ANN'SSCHOOL,KOTHAVALASAMANDAI,VIZIANAGARAMDISTRICT(NOW UNDER SUSPENSION)

...PETITIONER

AND

1. THESTATEOFANDHRAPRADESH,REPRESENTEDBYITSPRINCIPALSECRETARYPANCHAYATRAJANDRURALDEVELOPMENT,DEPARTMENT, STATE OF AP, SECRETARIAT,VELAGAPUDI, AMARAVATI, GUNTUR DISTRICT, AP.PRINCIPALSECRETARYPANCHAYATRAJANDRURALDEVELOPMENT,DEPARTMENT, STATE OF AP, SECRETARIAT,VELAGAPUDI, AMARAVATI, GUNTUR DISTRICT, AP.

2. THE DISTRICT COLLECTOR PW, VISAKHAPATNAM DISTRICT.

...RESPONDENT(S):

Petition under Article 226 of the Constitution of India praying that in thecircumstances statedin the affidavit filed therewith, the High Court may bepleased topleased toissue a Writ or Order more in[the][ nature][ of][ Mandamus]in declaring theaction of the 1strespondent in extending the suspensionordersissuedbythe2ndrespondentProcgs.No46/2024,AIVdated20.04.2024,untuillfurtherordersthroughMemoNo.PRROI-2643326/Vig.lll/AI/2024datedOS. 12.2024, of thelstrespondent asillegal,arbitrary, unjust,without reasons and violative of the G.O.Ms.No.22 GA(SER-

C)Departmentdated29.02.2024,andaccordinglysetasidethe1strespondent No.PRROI-2643326A/ig.lll/AI/2024Memo datedOS.12.2024,[with][ a]consequential directionto the respondents toreinstate the petitioner intoservice as Panchayat Secretary Grade V byreviewing the suspension ordersas per G.O.Ms.No.22 GA(SER-C)Department dated 29.02.2024[in][ an][ outer]time limit and pass lA NO: 1 OF 2024

Petition under Section 151 CPCpraying that in the[circumstances][ stated]in the affidavit filed in support of the petition, the High Court may be pleasedpleased to direct the respondents to reinstate the petitioner asPanchayatSecretary Grade-V asper G.O.Ms.No.22 GA(SER-C)Departmentdated29.02.2024 and pass Counsel for the Petitioner:

1. KRSRINIVAS

Counsel for the Respondent(S):

1. GP FOR SERVICES IV

The Court made the following ORDER:

Thepetitioner,PanchayatSecretary,Grade-V,placedundersuspension filed the above writ petition impugning the proceedings issued byrespondentNo.1videMemoNo.PRRO1-2643326A/iz.lll/A1/2024[dated]08.12.2024, whereby the authority reviewed and extended thepetitioner’ssuspensionuntil furtherorders, whichisillegal,arbitrary andcontrarytoG.O.Ms.No.22 GA (SER-C) Department, dated 29.02.2024.

2. HeardSmt.G.Manasa,learnedcounselforthepetitionerandSriS.Raju,learnedAssistant GovernmentPleaderforServicesfortherespondents.SriS.Raju,learnedAssistant GovernmentPleaderforServicesfortherespondents.

3. The petitioner was placed under suspensionvide Rc.No.46/2024,A1dated 20.04.2024 (Ex.PI),on the ground that ACBauthority trapped thepetitioner when he demanded and accepted a bribe of Rs.8,000/-.dated 20.04.2024 (Ex.PI),on the ground that ACBauthority trapped thepetitioner when he demanded and accepted a bribe of Rs.8,000/-.

4. The Government issued G.O.Ms.No.22 General Administration (Ser.C)Department dated29.02.2024,reducingtheouterlimitof suspensionofgovernment servants from two years to one year andfurther directedtheauthorities to review the order of suspension against government servantsbothin ACB and departmental inquiries at the endof every four monthsinstead of six months.Department dated29.02.2024,reducingtheouterlimitof suspensionofgovernment servants from two years to one year andfurther directedtheauthorities to review the order of suspension against government servantsbothin ACB and departmental inquiries at the endof every four monthsinstead of six months.

5. In the case at hand, respondent No.1, by proceedings impugned, dated08.12.2024 (Ex.P4) reviewed and extended the petitioner’s suspension untilfurther orders, which is prima facie against G.O.Ms.No.22[dated][ 29.02.2024.]The mandate, as per G.O.Ms.No.22 dated 29.02.2024isthat anorder ofsuspensionagainst governmentservantsbothin ACB and departmentalinquiries should be renewed for every four months.08.12.2024 (Ex.P4) reviewed and extended the petitioner’s suspension untilfurther orders, which is prima facie against G.O.Ms.No.22[dated][ 29.02.2024.]The mandate, as per G.O.Ms.No.22 dated 29.02.2024isthat anorder ofsuspensionagainst governmentservantsbothin ACB and departmentalinquiries should be renewed for every four months.

6. Given the facts and circumstances of the case, without touching themerits of the matter, this writ petitionis disposed of at the admission stage,with the consent of learned counsel on either side, directing respondent No.1to review the petitioner’s suspensionstrictlyin terms[of][ G.O.Ms.No.]No.22General Administration (Ser.C) Department dated 29.02.2024.[No][ costs.]merits of the matter, this writ petitionis disposed of at the admission stage,with the consent of learned counsel on either side, directing respondent No.1to review the petitioner’s suspensionstrictlyin terms[of][ G.O.Ms.No.]No.22General Administration (Ser.C) Department dated 29.02.2024.[No][ costs.]

As a sequel, pending miscellaneous petitions, if any,[shall][ stand][ closed.]

//TRUE COPY//

SD/- M. SRINIVASASSISTANT REGISTRAR

SEON OFFICER

To,

1. The Principal Secretary, Panchayat Raj and Rural Development,Department, State of Andhra Pradesh, Secretariat, Velagapudi,Amaravati, Guntur District, AP.Department, State of Andhra Pradesh, Secretariat, Velagapudi,Amaravati, Guntur District, AP.

2. The District Collector (PW), Visakhapatnam District.

3. One CC to Sri K. R. Srinivas, Advocate [OPUC]

4. Two CCs to GP for Services- IV, High Court of Andhra Pradesh.[OUT]5. Three CD Copies.5. Three CD Copies.

high court

■VwjDATED;31/12/2024

ORDER

WP.No.30715Of 2024

Disposing of tup w/ r>admission without cbsTS^^^

g17 JAN 2D25ov«9/^ ^ Curreni Section

OF