IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE, ANDHRA PRADESH AT HYDERABAD (Special Original Jurisdiction) WEDNESDAY, THE THIRTIETH DAY OF APRIL TWO THOUSAND AND EIGHT PRESENT THE HON'BLE MR JUSTICE RAMESH RANGANATHAN WRIT PETITION NO : 7554 of 1999 Between: V. Sitharamulu, E. 89834, Deputy Superintendent (Materials), Door No. 26-14-83A, Nagarampalem, Besides Alankar Theatre, Raghuramnagar 5th Line, Guntur, A.P. ..... PETITIONER AND 1 The Andhra Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation, Rep. by its Managing Director, Musheerabad, Hyderabad. 2 The Regional Manager, A. P. State Road Transport Corporation, Guntur. 3 The Depot Manager, A.P. State Road Transport Corporation, Guntur--II, A.P. ...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 call for the records relating to the suspension order No.M2/114(1)/99-GNT.II dated 25-2-1999 of the 3rd respondent suspending the petitioner from service and quash the same as illegal, null and void, by issuing a Writ in the nature of Certiorari or any other appropriate writ or order or direction as this Hon'ble Court may deem fit. Counsel for the Petitioner:MR.MOHD.GULAM RASOOL Counsel for the Respondents: MR.C.PRAKASH REDDY The Court made the following : O R D E R: The order of suspension dated 25-02-1999 is challenged in this writ petition on the ground that the Depot Manager is not the competent authority to suspend employees in the cadre of Deputy Superintendent (Materials) and it is only the Senior Scale Officer/Divisional Manager, who is competent to place employees in such a cadre under suspension. Sri C.Prakash Reddy, learned Standing Counsel, would fairly concede that this submission made by the counsel for the petitioner is correct and that the regulations do not empower the Depot Manager to pass the impugned order of suspension. The impugned order of suspension is accordingly quashed. It is needless to state that the quashing of the said order does not preclude the competent authority from taking action against the petitioner in accordance with law. The writ petition is, accordingly, disposed of. No costs. ____________________ Ramesh Ranganathan,J Dated 30th April, 2008 vrn ..... REGISTRAR // TRUE COPY // SECTION OFFICER To 1 The Andhra Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation, Rep. by its Managing Director, Musheerabad, Hyderabad. 2 The Regional Manager, A. P. State Road Transport Corporation, Guntur. 3 The Depot Manager, A.P. State Road Transport Corporation, Guntur--II, A.P. 4 2CD copies Form-NIC-OGS/WP{GSNM}