THE HON'BLE SRI JUSTICE L.NARASIMHA REDDY SECOND APPEAL No.66 of 2011 JUDGMENT: The appellant filed O.S.No.75 of 2003 in the Court of the Junior Civil Judge, Allagadda against the respondents claiming the relief in the form of a declaration that she is entitled to the pensionary benefits due to the death of her husband. Consequential direction was also sought against the respondents to pay the pensionary benefits. The respondents opposed the suit raising several objections. The trial Court decreed the suit through judgment, dated 24.09.2007. Aggrieved thereby, the respondents filed A.S.No.2 of 2008 in the Court of the Senior Civil Judge, Allagadda. The appeal was allowed through judgment, dated 20.09.2010. Hence, this second appeal. Heard the learned counsel for the appellant and the learned Government Pleader for Appeals. The main endeavour of the appellant was to establish that she was duly married wife of late K.Bhaskar Rao, who was employed as Attender in the Office the Mandal Revenue Officer, Chagalamarri Mandal, Kurnool District, respondent No.2 herein. The appellant pleaded that being the wife of the deceased employee, she is entitled to be paid the pension. The respondents took the plea that though the file was forwarded to the Audit Officer of the Local Fund, based on the claim of the appellant, it was rejected on the ground that the appellant is the second wife of the deceased employee and as per Rule 50 of the A.P. Revised Pension Rules, 1980, the appellant is not entitled for pension. It was further pleaded that the amounts payable towards encashment of leave, G.P.F and G.I.S. were extended to the members of the family. The trial Court decreed the suit and in appeal, the decree was reversed. It is not in dispute that the appellant is the second wife and the rules do not permit the payment of pension to the second wife of an employee. That, however, is on merits of the matter. There is a stumbling block for the claim made by the appellant. Section 17 of the A.P. Administrative Tribunals Act ousts the jurisdiction of all the Courts including that of the High Court in matters pertaining to the service conditions of the civil servants. The employees of Panchayat Raj Department are governed by the provisions of the A.P. Administrative Tribunals Act. Though this objection was not raised at the earliest stage of proceedings, being a pure question of law, it can be taken into account by this Court even at this stage of second appeal. The second appeal is accordingly dismissed. It is, however left open to the appellant to pursue the remedies in accordance with law. There shall be no order as to costs. _______________________ L.NARASIMHA REDDY,J Dt:18.03.2011. kdl