IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE, ANDHRA PRADESH AT HYDERABAD (Special Original Jurisdiction) WEDNESDAY, THE SIXTH DAY OF AUGUST TWO THOUSAND AND EIGHT PRESENT THE HON'BLE MR JUSTICE L.NARASIMHA REDDY WRIT PETITION NO : 16899 of 2008 Between: L.Jacob S/o.late Daniel R/o. MIG-29, Keertinagar, Warangal. ..... PETITIONER AND Northern Power Distribution Company of AP Ltd., rep. by its Superintending Engineer, Operation, Warangal. .....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 call for the records from the respondent and issue an appropriate Writ, Order or Direction, particularly one in the nature of Writ of Mandamus, declaring that the action of respondent in not considering case of the petitioner for promotion as Store Keeper Grade-I with eﬀect from 6.5.2005 as illegal, unjust, contrary to law, arbitrary, discriminatory and violative of Articles 14, 16 and 21 of the Constitution of India; and grant all consequential benefits, and pass such other order or orders. Counsel for the Petitioner:MR.A.K.JAYAPRAKASH RAO Counsel for the Respondent: P.R.BALARAMI REDDY(SC FOR AP TRANSCO) The Court made the following : ORDER: The petitioner was initially appointed, as Helper, on 15.07.1977, and thereafter, promoted as Store Assistant in 1982. On 18.10.2000, he was promoted as Store Keeper Grade-II. The next higher post is Store Keeper Grade-I. The qualiﬁcations prescribed for the post of Store Keeper Grade-I are that the person in the Feeder category must be a graduate and must have passed the Induction Accounts Test Paper-I and Induction Accounts Test Paper-II. Taking into account the fact that the examination for the tests was not held for quite some time, the respondents issued letter, dated 25.02.2006, providing for relaxation of that conditions, in certain cases. A policy decision was also taken on 30.10.2006, to promote the Store Keepers Grade-II, who have completed 5 years of service, as one time measure, without any verification as to the qualifications held by them. The cases of the petitioner and one Smt.S.Revathamma were accordingly considered and the Superintendent Engineer (Operation), Warangal, issued proceedings, dated 25.02.2006, recommending their case for promotion. When the matter was pending at the level of the Chief General Manager, the petitioner retired from service on 30.10.2006. Vide proceedings, dated 29.12.2006, the Chairman and the Managing Director accorded permission for upgradation of one Store Keeper Grade-II, to the post of Store Keeper Grade-I. The grievance of the petitioner is that he ought to have been promoted to Store Keeper Grade-I, while in service. Heard Sri A.K.Jaya Prakash Rao, learned counsel for the petitioner, and Sri P.Bala Rami Reddy, learned Standing Counsel for the respondent. The claim of the petitioner is based upon certain relaxations granted by the respondent-company, in the context of promotion to the post of Store Keeper Grade-I. It is not in dispute that the petitioner did not fulﬁll the conditions. Relaxation was given from holding such qualiﬁcations as a one time measure and the posts of Store Keeper Grade-I were proposed to be upgraded to a higher category. Even under such a scheme, no employee can claim the benefit, as of right. On his part, the respondent took steps for upgradation of the post held by the petitioner also. However, before the matter attained ﬁnality, the petitioner retired from service. Therefore, no relief can be granted to the petitioner. The Writ Petition is accordingly dismissed. There shall be no order as to costs. ____________________ Dt.06.08.2008 L.NARASIMHA REDDY, J GJ