IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE, ANDHRA PRADESH AT HYDERABAD (Special Original Jurisdiction) THURSDAY, THE TWENTY SIXTH DAY OF NOVEMBER TWO THOUSAND AND NINE PRESENT THE HON'BLE MS JUSTICE G.ROHINI WRIT PETITION No. 17020 OF 2009 Between: K.V.Ravi Kumar ..... PETITIONER AND The A.P.S.R.T.C., rep by its Managing Director, Musheerabad, Hyderabad and others .....RESPONDENTS Counsel for the Petitioner: Counsel for the Respondents: The Court made the following : THE HON'BLE MS JUSTICE G.ROHINI WRIT PETITION No. 17020 OF 2009 ORDER : This writ petition is filed aggrieved by the action of the 3rd respondent in terminating the services of the petitioner without holding any enquiry into the allegations of unauthorised absence as arbitrary and illegal. Admittedly, the petitioner was appointed as Driver on contract basis. Learned counsel for the petitioner contended that since the allegation of unauthorised absence itself casts stigma to the workman his services cannot be terminated without holding necessary enquiry. In support of the submissions, the learned counsel for the petitioner relied upon a decision of this Court in W.P.No.5998 of 2009 dated 23.03.2009, wherein this Court set aside an identical order under which the services of a contract worker was terminated without conducting any enquiry. Though the fact that the petitioner herein is also similarly situated has not been disputed, the learned Standing Counsel for the Corporation while submitting that as against the order of termination the petitioner preferred the review petition after more than an year contended that the interference by this Court at this stage is not warranted. Since the impugned order is ex-facie illegal and in violation of the principles of natural justice and that apart since the question of back wages does not arise, I deem it appropriate to grant the relief following the order in W.P.No.5998 of 009. Accordingly, the impugned order of termination, dated 18.12.2007 as well as the subsequent order dated 24.07.2009 passed by the 2nd respondent in review petition are hereby set aside with a direction to the respondents to reinstate the petitioner into service. Accordingly, the Writ Petition is disposed of leaving it open to the respondents to hold the necessary enquiry following due process of law. No costs. _____________ G. ROHINI, J. Date: 26.11.2009 Note: Furnish CC by one week (B/O) Ivd