THE HON’BLE MR JUSTICE L. NARASIMHA REDDY Writ Petition No.20874 of 2011 ORDER: The petitioners feel aggrieved by the action of respondents 1 and 2 in taking steps to fill the posts of Executive Engineers in the A.P. State Housing Corporation Limited, the 2nd respondent, even while their appeals preferred against the final seniority list dated 29.03.2011, are pending. The petitioners contend that they have been promoted to the posts of Assistant Engineers, much earlier to respondents 3 and 4, and despite the same, they are placed below respondents 3 and 4, in the final seniority list. The petitioners further contend that there is absolutely no justification on the part of respondents 1 and 2 in proposing to fill the posts of Executive Engineers, without disposing of the appeals. On behalf of respondents 3 and 4, separate counter-affidavits are filed, opposing the writ petition. Heard Sri M.Rama Rao, learned counsel for the petitioner, learned Government Pleader for the 1st respondent, learned Standing Counsel for the 2nd respondent, Sri D.Prakash Reddy, learned Senior Counsel for the 3rd respondent and Sri M.Pandu Ranga Rao, learned counsel for the 4th respondent. The petitioners and respondents 3 and 4 were appointed as Executive Engineers against the vacancies earmarked for direct recruitment, in the 2nd respondent-corporation. That itself was not relaxation, if not, in contravention of the relevant service regulations. The ban imposed by the Government against direct recruitment became handy, and paved the way for the petitioners to be appointed against the vacancies earmarked for direct recruitment. It is no doubt true that the petitioners, on the one hand, and respondents 3 and 4, on the other, were appointed as Assistant Engineers, through separate Government orders. The fact, however, remains that on a consideration of the relevant factors, the final seniority list was published, placing respondents 3 and 4 at serial Nos.28 and 29 and petitioners 32, 35, 31 and 35, respectively. Various contentions urged by the petitioners in their appeals, need to be considered by the 2nd respondent. Till such time, the promotions cannot be stalled. It goes without saying that the promotions, if any, shall be subject to the orders that may be passed by the 2nd respondent, in the appeals. The Writ Petition is disposed of, directing that the 2nd respondent shall pass appropriate orders in the appeals preferred by the petitioners within a period of two months from the date of receipt of a copy of this order. The 2nd respondent shall also issue notice to respondents 3 and 4, before passing such orders. The promotions that are made to the posts of Executive Engineers, shall be subject to the out come of the appeals. There shall be no order as to costs. _______________________ L.NARASIMHA REDDY, J Dt:24.08.2011 GJ