IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE, ANDHRA PRADESH AT HYDERABAD (Special Original Jurisdiction) TUESDAY, THE TWENTY FIRST DAY OF JULY TWO THOUSAND AND NINE PRESENT THE HON'BLE SRI JUSTICE V.ESWARAIAH and THE HON'BLE SRI JUSTICE P.SWAROOP REDDY WRIT PETITION No.7538 of 2000 Between: V.Narsi Reddy S/o.Reddy D.Veeranna Jalawadi Village , Pedda Kadulur mandal, Kurnool district. ..... PETITIONER AND 1 The Registrar A.P.Administrative Tribunal Hyderabad. 2 Govt Of A.P., Rep. by it’s Secretary, Revenue (VO) Dept., Secretariat, Hyderabad 3 The Commissioner of Land Revenue A.P., Hyderabad. 4 The Dist Collector Kurnool , Kurnool Dist. 5 The Revenue Divisional Officer Adoni , Kurnool Dist. 6 H.Srinivasa rao, Kallukanta Village, Pedda kadalur Mandal Kurnool dist. .....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 of Mandamus declaring the action of the respondent authorities herein in so far directing for issue of a fresh notification for selection of Village Administrative Officer of jalwadi Village, Pedda Kaduluru Mandal , Kurnool District as illegal ,arbitrary, unjust and against the Principles Of Natural Justice and to set aside the orders passed in O.A.No.4151/96 Dt:13.3.2000 to the extent it went against the petitioner herein and consequently to direct the respondent authorities to continue the petitioner as Village Administrative Officer of Jalwadi Village, Pedda Kaduluru Mandal, Kurnool District and to pass such other or further orders. Counsel for the Petitioner: MR.Y.ASHOK RAJ Counsel for the Respondent Nos.1 to 4: GP FOR SERVICES II The Court made the following : THE HON'BLE SRI JUSTICE V.ESWARAIAH and THE HON'BLE SRI JUSTICE P.SWAROOP REDDY WRIT PETITION No.7538 of 2000 ORDER: (per the Hon’ble Sri Justice P.Swaroop Reddy) This writ petition is filed assailing the order, dated 13-03-2000, passed by the A.P.Administrative Tribunal, Hyderabad (for short “the Tribunal”), in O.A.No.4151 of 1996. The brief facts of the case are that the petitioner was appointed as a Village Administrative Officer by the Revenue Divisional Officer, Adoni, vide Ref.No.Rc.B.3243/91, dated 25-03-1992, and he joined duty as Village Administrative Officer on 25-03-1992 itself. He worked as Village Administrative Officer at V.Thimmapuram, Mantralaya Mandal, Kurnool District, prior to the abolition of Village Officers’ posts on 06-01-1984. The petitioner and unofficial respondent No.6 were interviewed by the Selection Committee on 25.01.1992 and after considering merits and demerits of each candidate, the Selection Committee had selected the petitioner for Jalawadi Village, Pedda Kaduluru Mandal, Kurnool District, vide R.C.No.D.3243/91, dt.25.03.1992. Against the said appointment, unofficial respondent No.6 filed an appeal before the District Collector and the said appeal was allowed on 14-08-1992. Aggrieved by the same, the petitioner herein preferred second appeal to the Commissioner of Land Revenue and the second appeal was dismissed on 27-07-1994. Aggrieved by the same, the petitioner herein preferred a revision to the Government and the Government dismissed the revision vide its order, dated 05-07-1996. Aggrieved by the same, the petitioner filed O.A.No.4151 of 1996 before the Tribunal seeking to set aside the Memo, dated 05-07-1996 and to direct the respondents to continue the petitioner herein as Village Administrative Officer, Jalawadi Village, Pedda Kaduluru Mandal, Kurnool District. The Tribunal vide its order, dated 13-03-2000, while disposing of the said O.A., observed as follows:- “In view of the facts and circumstances of the case and as the applicant is being continued as Village Administrative Officer eventhough he has not been applied for the said post by virtue of interim orders, we direct the official respondents to take steps for notifying the said vacancy to fill up the same in accordance with rules and till such time, the applicant, who is now continuing is allowed to continue and also to participate in the selection process.” Aggrieved by the said order, the present writ petition is filed by the petitioner. The petitioner sought for an interim direction in the writ petition to direct the respondent authorities to continue him as Village Administrative Officer of Jalawadi Village, Pedda Kaduluru Mandal, Kurnool District, by suspending the order, dated 13-03-2000 passed in O.A.No.4151 of 1996, pending disposal of the writ petition and to that extent an interim order was granted by this court on 28.04.2000. Now, the learned Government Pleader reports that the post of Village Administrative Officer is no longer in existence and the said post was converted into Panchayat Secretary and thereafter it was converted into Village Revenue Officer. That being so, the relief claimed in the writ petition has become infructuous. However, in view of the fact that the existing Village Administrative Officers, who are considered as Panchayat Secretaries and then as the Village Revenue Officers, in the cases, where they were qualified, in case, the petitioner, who is aged about 49 years as on the date of filing of the writ petition, is otherwise qualified he may be considered for the post of Village Revenue Officer. Accordingly, the writ petition is disposed of. There shall be no order as to costs. ________________ V.ESWARAIAH, J _____________________ P.SWAROOP REDDY, J Date: 21-07-2009 Prv