THE HON’BLE SRI JUSTICE L.NARASIMHA REDDY WRIT PETITION No. 17158 OF 2008 O R D E R: Up to the year 1994, there used to be two separate Zones of APSRTC, catering to the needs of city and its suburbs, namely Golconda Zone and Bhagyanagar Zone. The petitioners were appointed as Junior Assistants in Golconda Zone. The two Zones were merged into Hyderabad Zone, in the year 1994. Four years thereafter, demerger took place, and two separate zones were created, namely Hyderabad Zone and Hyderabad City Zone (for short “the City Zone”). Employees of uniﬁed Hyderabad Zone were given option. It emerged that there did not exist any vacancies in the City Zone, for absorbing the petitioners. Therefore, an order was passed to the eﬀect that in case adequate vacancies did not arise, within a period of one year, they would be absorbed in the other Zone. Within that stipulated time, adequate vacancies did not arise. The petitioners complain that, on the one hand, they were not absorbed in the City Zone, and on the other hand, several Junior Assistants, who were inferior in seniority, were promoted. They seek appropriate directions, in this regard. The respondents ﬁled a counter aﬃdavit, narrating the various developments that took place, on account of merger and demerger of two zones, referred to above. Heard the learned counsel for the petitioners and learned Standing Counsel for the respondents. Though the petitioners opted for being absorbed in the City Zone in the year 1998, their option could not materialize, in view of the fact that adequate number of vacancies did not exist, or arise. The respondents ought to have taken immediate steps, or passed appropriate orders, making the status of the petitioners clear. That, in turn, would have entailed the restoration of seniority, as well as consequential promotion of the petitioners. There cannot be any justiﬁcation for denying the promotion to the petitioners, and their proper place in the seniority in Hyderabad Zone. Hence, the writ petition is allowed, and it is directed that the petitioners shall be treated as the employees of Hyderabad Zone, and they shall be extended the beneﬁt of promotion, on the basis of their seniority in the category of Junior Assistants; and consequential beneﬁts shall also be extended, within a period of six weeks from the date of receipt of a copy of this order. There shall be no order as to costs. _________________ 7th August 2008 PAN