THE HON’BLE SRI JUSTICE K.C. BHANU WRIT PETITION No.17181 OF 2011 ORDER: This Writ Petition is filed to declare the action of the respondents in repatriating the petitioner to the third respondent –group temples by reverting him from the cadre of Junior Assistant to the cadre of Record Assistant, pending enquiry, vide proceedings dated 27.05.2011, as illegal and arbitrary, and to set aside the said proceedings. 2. The brief facts that are necessary for disposal of the present writ petition may be stated as follows: The petitioner was initially appointed as Attender in the year 1991 and subsequently promoted as Record Assistant in the year 2001 at the group temples of Kotapadu, Sirivella Mandal, Kurnool District. Since the petitioner had completed all the required tests, the first respondent issued proceedings, dated 06.12.2003, promoting him as Junior Assistant, and transferred to the second respondent – temple. On 18.02.2010, in the process of counting hundi at Upper Ahobilam Devasthanam, which was conducted under the supervision of Local Endowments Inspector, the petitioner including other office staff had participated, and after completion of the said counting, the amount was carried to the office of the Manager and kept in the safe custody. While remitting the said amount to the Bank authorities, it was found that there was variation of Rs.1,00,000/- from the total figure, for which, the petitioner was compelled by the higher authorities to pay the said amount and accordingly, he paid the same on 14.03.2010, subject to further enquiries in the matter. In spite of the same, on 14.05.2010, he was placed under suspension, pending enquiry. Thereafter, the second respondent – temple, vide proceedings, dated 01.07.2010, revoked the said suspension order and reinstated the petitioner into service as Junior Assistant and posted at the same place, i.e., Upper Ahobilam Temple, to discharge his duties other than the work earlier done by him, such as water works and collection of rice etc. Subsequently, pursuant to the recommendation made by the Regional Joint Commissioner, Endowments Department, to repatriate the petitioner to the parent institute or to transfer him to any other department, the first respondent passed orders, dated 27.05.2011, repatriating him from the establishment of the second respondent to the establishment of the third respondent, and directing the third respondent to revert the petitioner from the cadre of Junior Assistant to the cadre of Record Assistant, for the reason that there was shortage of Rs.1,00,000/- in the process of counting hundi held on 18.02.2010. In the said repatriation order, it was further stated that the petitioner was kept under suspension and after recovering the amount from the petitioner, he was again reinstated into service, pending enquiry. The grievance of the petitioner is that the impugned proceedings, dated 27.05.2011, issued by the first respondent, pending enquiry against him, are illegal and contrary to law. Hence, the writ petition. 3. Learned counsel for the petitioner contended that without conducting a detailed enquiry, the petitioner was reverted from the cadre of Junior Assistant to the cadre of Record Assistant and therefore, the impugned proceeding is liable to be set aside. 4. On the other hand, Sri V.T.M.Prasad, learned Standing Counsel for Endowments appearing on behalf of respondent Nos.2 and 3, contended that since there was misappropriation of hundi collection on the part of the petitioner, he was rightly reverted and hence, there are no grounds to interfere with the impugned proceedings. 5. There cannot be any dispute that one cannot be reverted from the superior post to the lower post by way of punishment. In the present case, no detailed enquiry is conducted against the petitioner for the alleged shortage of amount of Rs.1,00,000/- in the process of hundi collection in the temple. By the impugned proceedings, the third respondent was directed by the first respondent to revert the petitioner from the cadre of Junior Assistant to the cadre of Record Assistant. When there was a recommendation either to repatriate or to transfer the petitioner, the second respondent ought not have directed the parent department to revert the petitioner to the cadre of Record Assistant. Therefore, the impugned proceeding, insofar as giving direction to the third respondent to revert the petitioner from the cadre of Junior Assistant to the cadre of Record Assistant, is set aside. However, this order does not preclude the respondents to take appropriate disciplinary action in accordance with law. 6. With the above direction, the Writ Petition is disposed of. There shall be no order as to costs. _______________ K.C. BHANU, J 22.06.2011 Note:- Issue C.C. in three days. (B/o) KH THE HON’BLE SRI JUSTICE K.C. BHANU WRIT PETITION No.17181 OF 2011 Dated:22.06.2011 Between: B.Chandrudu .. Petitioner And The Commissioner, Endowments Department, Boggulakunta, Tilak Road, Hyderabad Andhra Pradesh and others .. Respondents