HON’BLE SRI JUSTICE R. SUBHASH REDDY Writ Petition No.3421 of 2010 Date: March 4, 2010 Between: G.S. Prasad, C-65016, Driver, S/o. Subba Rao, aged 34 years, APSRTC, Amalapuram Depot, R/o.Amalapuram, East Godavari District … Petitioner And The APSRTC, rep. by its Managing Director, Musheerabad, Hyderabad, and three others … Respondents Order: In this Writ Petition, the petitioner challenges the order, dated 08-08- 2008, issued in proceedings No.M1/2(24)/08-AMP, by the Depot Manager, A.P.S.R.T.C., Amalapuram-3rd respondent, terminating the petitioner from service, as confirmed by the Regional Manager, A.P.S.R.T.C., East Godavari Division, 2nd respondent, by an order, dated 16-02-2009, issued in proceedings No.PA/20/( )/2008-RM:EG. 2. The petitioner was appointed as a Driver on contract basis in the Andhra Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation, after following the regular procedure for selection. On 20-07-2008, when he was driving the bus bearing No. AP 11Z 5175, it met with an accident by dashing against a stationed lorry. In view of the accident, a police case was registered against the petitioner. Subsequently, without conducting any independent departmental enquiry, the 2nd respondent has terminated the petitioner from service, by an order, dated 08-08-2008, issued in proceedings M1/2(24)/08- AMP, on the ground that he was negligent in driving the bus on 20-07-2008, which resulted in an accident by hitting a lorry which was stationed. Aggrieved thereby, the petitioner has submitted a representation to the Regional Manager, A.P.S.R.T.C., East Godavari-2nd respondent, who rejected the same, by an order, dated 16-02-2009, issued in proceedings PA/20/( )/2008-RM:EG, on the ground that there are no valid reasons worth consideration. 3. It is submitted by the learned counsel for the petitioner that the impugned orders, which are passed without conducting any enquiry and without issuing any notice, cast stigma on the career of the petitioner. In this connection, the learned counsel has placed reliance on the order, dated 23.03.2009, passed in W.P.No.5998 of 2009, wherein a learned Single Judge of this Court has held that termination of the petitioner therein without conducting enquiry and without issuing notice, is illegal, and ordered reinstatement of the petitioner therein into service, with liberty to the respondents therein to hold enquiry. Therefore, he prays to pass similar orders in the present writ petition. The learned standing counsel appearing for the respondents has fairly conceded the above position. 4. Even a perusal of the impugned order of termination, dated 08-08- 2008, shows that the said order is passed without conducting any enquiry and also without issuing any notice to the petitioner. In that view of the matter, there is no justification on the part of the respondents for terminating the petitioner from service. 5. Following the order, dated 23.03.2009, passed by this Court in W.P.No.5998 of 2009, the impugned orders are quashed and the respondents are directed to reinstate the petitioner into service. However, it is made clear that the respondents are at liberty to hold appropriate enquiry into the allegation leveled against the petitioner, in accordance with Rules. 6. In the result, the writ petition is allowed to the extent indicated above. No order as to costs. ________________________ R. SUBHASH REDDY, J March 4, 2010 MRR