IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE, ANDHRA PRADESH AT HYDERABAD HON’BLE Mr. JUSTICE R. SUBHASH REDDY Writ Petition No.17382 of 2006 Dated: August 30, 2006 Between: M. Ravi Shankar Kumar, S/o. Vijaya Rao, S.C., Male, Hindu, aged about 32 years, D.No.4-184, Ramalayam Street, Ravindra Nagar, Thurangi (PO), Kakinada, East Godavari District. … Petitioner And Director (R) Directorate of Light Houses and Light Ships (Ministry of Shipping) Dock Labour Board Building, 5th Floor, Karmik Jyothi, Port Area, Visakhapatnam, and another. … Respondents Order: This writ petition has been filed seeking Mandamus to declare the action of the first respondent in not allowing the petitioner to appear for written test and interview for selection and appointment to the post of Assistant Light Keeper (Junior Scale) as illegal and arbitrary. 2. Heard learned counsel for the petitioner, Mr. B.V. Ramnaresh Kumar, learned Additional Standing Counsel for Central Government and learned Government Pleader for Employment and Training appearing for first and second respondents. 3. The case of the petitioner, who claims to have passed I.T.I. and also Trade Test in the trade of Lineman, is that the first respondent has requisitioned names from the local employment exchange to consider their candidature for appointment to the post of Assistant Light Keeper (Junior Scale). It is stated that as he was not sponsored by the employment exchange, he directly made an application dated 01-08-2006 to the first respondent to consider his candidature for appointment to the said post. 4. The grievance of the petitioner is that his candidature is not being considered by the respondents on the ground that he is not being sponsored by the employment exchange, which is contrary to the judgment of the Apex Court, in the case of Excise Superintendent, Malakapatnam V. Vishweswara Rao[1]. 5. On instructions, learned Standing Counsel submits that the application of the petitioner has been received by the respondents and it is being scrutinized to assess his eligibility. 6. In the circumstances, I dispose of the writ petition directing the respondents to consider the candidature of the petitioner and allow him to appear for written test, if he is eligible, along with the candidates sponsored by the local employment exchange. However, it is made clear the case of the petitioner shall be considered subject to his possessing requisite qualifications and complying all other conditions notified for selection and appointment to the said post. ____________________________ JUSTICE R. SUBHASH REDDY. August 30, 2006 N.B. Furnish C.C. in two days B/o MRR [1] 1996 (6) Scale 676