THE HON’BLE SRI JUSTICE V.V.S.RAO AND THE HON’BLE SRI JUSTICE K.G.SHANKAR WRIT PETITION NO.17675 OF 2008 ORDER: (Per the Hon’ble Sri Justice V.V.S.Rao) The petitioner is an Assistant Village Revenue Officer (VRO). While he was working at Dasarlapally Village of Kandukur Mandal, Ranga Reddy District, by proceedings dated 27.03.2008, he was placed under suspension. He challenged the same in O.A.No.2663 of 2008. Andhra Pradesh Administrative Tribunal dismissed the said O.A. He, then, filed W.P.No.9626 of 2008. By an order, dated 11.07.2008, made in W.P.M.P.No.12706 of 2008, this Court ordered suspension of the suspension order during pendency of the Writ Petition. In obedience thereto, the second respondent, who is the appointing and disciplinary authority, issued proceedings dated 30.07.2008 posting the petitioner as VRO of Edulabad-II Cluster of Ghatkesar Mandal, Ranga Reddy District. Being aggrieved, he assailed the same in O.A.No.6459 of 2008. By order dated 07.08.2008, the learned Tribunal dismissed the original application observing that the posting of the petitioner in obedience to the orders of the High Court at Edulabad-II, Cluster of Ghatkesar Mandal, is in accordance with the extant administrative guidelines issued vide G.O.Ms.No.105, Revenue (Village Administration I) Department, dated 31.01.2007. It is contended by the petitioner that the order of transfer is arbitrary and contrary to the guidelines in G.O.Ms.No.105. We are afraid, the submission is misconceived. In order to strengthen the revenue administration at village level, the Government of Andhra Pradesh issued orders in G.O.Ms.No.1950 Revenue (Village Administration I) Department, dated 30.12.2006, creating revenue functionary at village level under the exclusive control of the Mandal Revenue Officer. A year thereafter, the Chief Commissioner of Land Administration convened the meeting of all the Joint Collectors. Based on the deliberations, he sent proposals on 16.01.2007 for modification of the administrative set up for effective village level administration. Accepting the recommendations, the Government issued guidelines, which are as under. (1) 6752 erstwhile Village Administrative Officers working as Panchayat Secretaries and 2800 erstwhile Village Administrative Officers working as Part-time Assistants under the control of Mandal Parishad Development Officers (MPDOs) in Panchayat Raj & Rural Development be transferred and brought under the control of Tahsildars in Revenue Department with effect from 08.02.2007. The Collectors shall effect the said transfers after obtaining their option immediately. (2) The said Revenue functionary be called as Village Revenue Officer. (3) The Village Revenue Officers shall be paid the same Pay & Allowances as they are being paid in Panchayat Raj & Rural Development Department. (4) The Tahsildars (Mandal Revenue Officers) shall be the Drawing and Disbursing Officer for the post of Village Revenue Officer. (5) The Job-Chart of Village Revenue Officer is as specified in the Annexure. The Panchayat Raj & Rural Development Department shall recast the Job-Chart of Panchayat Secretary working in Panchayat Raj Department. (6) The Village Revenue Officer shall be posted to one of the Revenue Villages in which he is presently working now as Panchayat Secretary as a Part-time Assistant. He shall be kept in charge of one or more revenue villages till permanent clustering of villages is done in due course. (7) The District Collector concerned shall be the transferring authority and disciplinary authority. (8) The Village Revenue Officer should necessarily reside in the village or in one of the villages under his charge. Failure to reside in the Village would result in initiation of disciplinary action which may lead to dismissal from service. (9) The Service Rules etc., to the post of Village Revenue Officer will be issued separately. After perusing the above guidelines, we are convinced that the proceedings issued by the District Collector in obedience to the interlocutory orders passed by this Court revoking the suspension and posting the petitioner at Edulabad-II Cluster of Ghatkesar Mandal do not in any manner contravene the guidelines. The Writ Petition is misconceived and is, accordingly, dismissed. There shall be no order as to costs. _______________ (V.V.S.RAO, J) ___________________ (K.G.SHANKAR, J) 19th October 2011 RRB