THE HON’BLE MR JUSTICE L. NARASIMHA REDDY Writ Petition No.22286 of 2010 ORDER: The petitioner was engaged as Conductor by the APSRTC, on contract basis. Alleging that he is unauthorisedly absent from duty, with effect from 18.02.2008, the Depot Manager, the 3rd respondent herein, passed orders, dated 17.03.2008, terminating the contract. The same is challenged in this writ petition. The petitioner contends that no notice was issued to him, much less any domestic enquiry was conducted and the impugned order cannot be sustained in law. Heard learned counsel for the petitioner and learned Standing Counsel for the respondent. It may be true that the appointment of the petitioner as Conductor is on contractual basis. All the same, the termination of the contract, by alleging certain acts of indiscipline, would certainly violate the rights of the petitioner. Before such a severe penalty is imposed, the Corporation ought to have issued notice and conducted departmental enquiry. Time and again, this Court held that the procedure prescribed under various regulations, framed by the Corporation, is applicable to the contractual employees also, particularly in the matter of termination of services. Reference, in this context, may be made to a judgment of this Court in G.Venkata Rao v. Depot Manager, APSRTC, Visakhapatnam Depot[1]. Hence, the Writ Petition is allowed and the impugned order is set aside. It shall be open to the 3rd respondent to initiate disciplinary proceedings against the petitioner, if he stills feels necessary. The petitioner be reinstated into service, but he shall not be entitled to any back wages, or continuity of service. There shall be no order as costs. _____________________ L. NARASIMHA REDDY, J. Dt.07.09.2010. GJ [1] 2008 (5) ALD 439