IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE OF ANDHRA PRADESH AT HYDERABAD THE HON’BLE MR. JUSTICE R.SUBHASH REDDY WRIT PETITION NO. 8952 OF 1999 Dated: 5th July, 2006 Between: Syed Salahuddin Petitioner AND The Regional Manager, A.P.S.R.T.C., Adilabad, Adilabad Dist. Respondents ORAL ORDER: The petitioner who appeared for selection to the post of Conductor, held during the month of February, 1999 has filed this writ petition, seeking a direction to declare him as selected candidate. Mainly, the grievance of the petitioner is that though he secured 84.4% marks in the SSC examination, his case was ignored yet several other candidates were selected having less percentage of marks. In the counter affidavit filed on behalf of the respondent, it is stated that in all 182 vacancies were notified for appointment, several vacancies were reserved for Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, Backward Classes and Ex-Servicemen category. It is further stated that so far as OC men are concerned, there were 64 vacancies available in the open category. It is further stated that in the merit list prepared, the petitioner stood at Sl. No.67 and he did not come up for selection. However, it has to be further noticed that the other candidates alleged to have been selected, were selected in the vacancies, which are reserved for the Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, Backward Classes and Ex-Servicemen category. In that view of the matter, merely because the other candidates who got less percentage of marks were selected in the vacancies reserved for Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, Backward Classes and Ex- Servicemen, it cannot be said that such a selection is illegal and arbitrary, particularly in view of the fact that in the merit list, the petitioner stood at Sl. No. 67 and only 64 vacancies were filled with OC men. In that view of the matter, I do not see any illegality committed by the respondent in the selections made. The writ petition is devoid of merits and it is accordingly dismissed. No order as to costs. _________________ R.Subhash Reddy, J. July 5, 2006 MAS.