IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE, ANDHRA PRADESH AT HYDERABAD (Special Original Jurisdiction) THURSDAY, THE FOURTH DAY OF SEPTEMBER TWO THOUSAND AND EIGHT PRESENT THE HON'BLE MR JUSTICE C.V.RAMULU WRIT PETITION NO : 8740 of 2008 Between: N.Pandu s/o.Lalya R/o.20-202, Gandhinagar, Devarkonda, Nalgonda District. ..... PET IT IONER AND 1 APSRTC, Rep. by its Managing Director, Musheerabad, Hyderabad. 2 The Depot Manager, A.P.S.R.T.C. Bus Depot, Devarakonda, Nalgonda District. .....RESPONDENT (S) 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 to isue an appropriate writ or direction particularly one in the nature of Writ of Mandamus, declaring the impugned proceeding No.P7/1(10)/96-DVK dated 26.7.1997 in postponing the petitioner annual increment for a period of one year with cumulative eﬀect on future increments as arbitrary, unjust, in violation of Art. 14, 16 & 21 of the Constitution of India as well as in violation of REg.12 (2) of APSRTC., C.C. & A., Reg. 1967 and consequently direct the respondents to restore the above increments along with its consequential beneﬁts in the interest of justice and fair play. Counsel for the Petitioner:MR.V.NARASIMHA GOUD Counsel for the Respondent No.: SMT.B.G.UMA DEVI The Court made the following : THE HON'BLE MR JUSTICE C.V.RAMULU W.P.No.8740 of 2008 ORAL ORDER: This writ petition is ﬁled seeking a Mandamus declaring the impugned proceedings dated 26.7.1997 postponing the annual grade increment of the petitioner for a period of one year with cumulative eﬀect as arbitrary, i l l egal , violative of Articles 14, 16 and 21 of the Constitution of India and also violative of Regulation 12(2) of APSRTC CC&A Regulation 1967. There is no necessity of going into all the details. It is suﬃce to notice that the petitioner was imposed with punishment of stoppage of one annual grade increment with cumulative eﬀect vide impugned proceedings dated 26.7.1997 since he had absented for duties from 24.4.1996 to 25.4.1996 and 1.5.1996 to 3.5.1996. After a long lapse of (11) years, the said order is being questioned in the present writ petition on the ground that the respondents have no authority to impose the punishment of stoppage of one annual grade increment with cumulative eﬀect without conducting a detailed enquiry as it amounts to major punishment. I am of the opinion that the writ petition suﬀers from irretrievable laches, therefore the same is liable to be dismissed on this ground alone. Accordingly, the writ petition is dismissed. No order as to costs. ________________ C.V.RAMULU, J Date: 4.9.2008 DA THE HON'BLE MR JUSTICE C.V.RAMULU W.P.No.8740 of 2008 4.9.2008