IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE, ANDHRA PRADESH AT HYDERABAD (Special Original Jurisdiction) WEDNESDAY, THE NINETEENTH DAY OF MARCH TWO THOUSAND AND EIGHT PRESENT THE HON'BLE MR JUSTICE L.NARASIMHA REDDY WRIT PETITION NO : 2820 of 2008 Between: K.R. Reddy, S/o. Jangi Reddy, APSRTC, Narayanpet Bus Depot, Mahaboobnagar District A.P. ..... PETITIONER AND The Depot Manager, APSRTC, Narayanapet Bus Depot, Mahaboobnagar District, A.P. .....RESPONDENT 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 or order or direction more particularly one in the nature of Writ of mandamus declaring that the action of the respondent in suspending the petitioner for the missing of tickets tray on 09-01-2008 at MGBS, Hyderabad is bad, arbitrary, illegal by setting aside the suspension order No. 02/804()/2008- NRPT, dt. 2-2-2008 of respondent herein and consequently direct the respondent allow the petitioner into duties immediately by treating suspension period as on duty for all purposes. Counsel for the Petitioner:MR.P.VENKATESWAR RAO Counsel for the Respondent : SMT.B.G.UMA DEVI The Court made the following : THE HON'BLE MR JUSTICE L.NARASIMHA REDDY WRIT PETITION NO : 2820 of 2008 ORDER: The petitioner is employed as a Conductor in the Narayanpet Depot of A.P.S.R.T.C. On 08.01.2008, he conducted a bus on the route from Yadgir to Hyderabad. After the bus reached the destination, the petitioner lost the ticket tray as well as the tickets in it, worth Rs.30,408/- . Immediately thereafter, he reported the matter to the Station Manager and on his direction, a complaint was submitted before the P.S.Afzalgunz. On 02.02.2008, the respondent herein issued a charge sheet as well as an order of suspension to the petitioner. The petitioner contends that the proceedings initiated against him, be it, the charge sheet or the order of suspension, are untenable, in view of the Judgment of this Court in Ch.P.Reddy vs. A.P.S.R.T.C.[1] Heard the learned counsel for the petitioner and the learned counsel for the respondent. The only allegation leveled against the petitioner is that he lost the ticket tray together with the tickets worth Rs.30,408/-. Dealing with such a situation, this Court in Ch.P.Reddy’s case (1 supra) held that the Corporation can only recover the printing charges of the tickets, unless it is proved that the employee had misused the tickets. The enquiry against the petitioner is pending. The petitioner can certainly urge the contention, based on the Judgment referred to above. It would be in the interests of the Corporation as well as the petitioner, that the disciplinary proceedings are concluded at the earliest, particularly when there is no necessity to examine any witnesses, since there are no allegations of non-issuance of tickets to passengers etc. Hence, the writ petition is disposed of, leaving it open to the petitioner to urge all the grounds, including the one based on the Judgment of this Court in Ch.P.Reddy’s case (1 supra) and the respondent shall conclude the proceedings initiated against the petitioner, within a period of six (6) weeks from the date of receipt of a copy of this order. There shall be no order as to costs. _________ 19.03.2008 Note: Issue C.C. in three days. (B/o) JSU ..... REGISTRAR // TRUE COPY // SECTION OFFICER To 1.2CCs to 2.2CD copies Form-NIC-OGS/WP{RLD} THE HON'BLE MR JUSTICE L.NARASIMHA REDDY WRIT PETITION NO : 2820 of 2008 Date: 19.03.2008 JSU [1] 2000(5) ALT 7