IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE, ANDHRA PRADESH AT HYDERABAD (Special Original Jurisdiction) WEDNESDAY, THE THIRTEENTH DAY OF AUGUST TWO THOUSAND AND EIGHT PRESENT THE HON'BLE SRI JUSTICE V.V.S.RAO and THE HON'BLE SRI JUSTICE G.CHANDRAIAH WRIT PETITION No.17110 of 2008 Between: 1 P. Srinivas S/o P. Pentaiah R/o 17-2-525/2 kurmaguda Saidabad Hyderabad 2 H. Ravi Kumar S/o H. Nagaiah R/o 2/208 Venkateswara Colony Zillaguda, Saroornagar Mandal RR. District. 3 K. Nagarani D/o K. Mahesh R/o 2/208 Venkateswara Colony Zillaguda, Saroornagar Mandal RR. District. ..... PETITIONERS AND 1 The Registrar General High Court of A.P, Hyderabad. 2 The Metropolitian Sessions Judge Court Nampally Hyderabad. .....RESPONDENTS Petition under Article 226 of the constitution of India praying that in the circumstances stated in the Affidavit filed herein the High Court will be pleased to issue a Writ or direction more particularly in the nature of Writ of Mandamus declaring the action of the 2nd respondent in refusing to receive the applications of the petitioners though the their applications are sent through speed post before the due date as illegal, arbitrary, highhanded and cannot be justified in the eye of law and also subversive of Art 14 of Constitution of India and consequently direct the respondents to receive the applications and permit the petitioners for selection process in the interest of justice and as such other and further order or orders. Counsel for the Petitioner: Sri CH.SRINIVAS Counsel for the Respondents: (SC FOR APHC) D.V.SITHARAM MURTHY The Court made the following : THE HON'BLE SRI JUSTICE V.V.S.RAO AND THE HON'BLE SRI JUSTICE G.CHANDRAIAH WRIT PETITION No.17110 of 2008 ORDER: (Per Hon’ble Sri Justice V.V.S.Rao) The petitioners are statedly persons belonging to Scheduled Tribes. They sent their applications seeking appointment as attenders in the Unit of Metropolitan Sessions Judge, Nampally, Hyderabad, pursuant to Notification No.4/2008, dated 13.06.2008. The applications sent by the petitioners by post were refused by the second respondent with an endorsement “refused – last date over”. Having come to know this, the petitioners are before this Court seeking a writ of mandamus declaring the action of the second respondent in refusing to receive the applications as illegal and arbitrary. Our attention has been invited to the Notification dated 13.06.2008. As per this, the last date for receipt of applications is 14.07.2008 upto 5.00 P.M. The petitioners contend that they have sent their applications much before the last date, but they were received after the last date, and therefore, they cannot be penalized. We are afraid, we cannot accept the plea. It is well settled that even if the applications are received by the appointing authority/recruiting authority after expiry of last date, such applications cannot be considered valid. This is settled position in law. All the candidates are expected to be vigilant and send their applications very much in advance keeping in view the public holidays, on which, ordinarily Postal Authorities would not deliver. We do not find any infirmity in the action of the second respondent. The Writ Petition is, therefore, dismissed. No costs. ____________ (V.V.S.RAO, J) _________________ (G.CHANDRAIAH, J) 13.08.2008 vs To 1 The Registrar General High Court of A.P, Hyderabad. 2 The Metropolitian Sessions Judge Court Nampally Hyderabad. 3 2CCs to 4 2CD copies Form-NIC-OGS/WP{TRT}