HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE B.PRAKASH RAO AND HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE SANJAY KUMAR WRIT APPEAL No.1753 of 2002 JUDGMENT: (Per Hon’ble Mr.Justice Sanjay Kumar) The respondents in the writ petition, the Andhra Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation (for brevity ‘APSRTC’) and its Regional Manager, Jubilee Bus Station, Secunderabad, are in appeal aggrieved by the order dated 26/08/2002 passed by the learned Single Judge allowing W.P.No.10997 of 2002. The grievance of the respondent-writ petitioner before the learned Single Judge was with regard to the action of the APSRTC in rejecting his request for Special Grade increments on par with certain other employees. The said request was rejected by the proceedings dated 22/01/2002 which were impugned in the writ petition. The learned Single Judge, taking note of the judgment passed by this Court in W.P.No.5726 of 2000 dated 23/08/2000, allowed the writ petition. By the judgment dated 23/08/2000 in W.P.No.5726 of 2000, a learned Single Judge of this Court held that employees working in the respondent-corporation were entitled to stagnation increments/grade, provided they completed 12 years in the same category. It was further observed that 12 years was not necessarily to be completed in the same division and that the total length of service of the employee concerned, in that particular category, has to be taken into consideration. The petitioner rendered more than 12 years of service in the category of Junior Assistant and therefore, his entitlement to the Special Grade increment cannot be disputed. Holding so, the learned Judge allowed the writ petition. It is brought to our notice that the judgment dated 23/08/2000 in W.P.No.5726 of 2000 has become final, as it has been confirmed in appeal. The contention of the APSRTC that the respondent/writ petitioner did not complete 12 years of service as a Junior Assistant is without basis in the light of the order passed by this Court in W.P.No.10126 of 1988 whereby the respondent/writ petitioner was held to be entitled to all consequential benefits from the date when other candidates who were selected along with him were appointed. Thus, the respondent/writ petitioner is deemed to be in service as a junior assistant from 23/08/1988. The APSRTC cannot therefore reckon his services in that category from 13/03/1992. We, therefore, find no reason to interfere with the order passed by the learned Single Judge. The Writ Appeal is devoid of merit and is accordingly dismissed. No costs. _________________ B.PRAKASH RAO, J __________________ Date: 22-09-2009 SANJAY KUMAR, J SKM