THE HON’BLE SRI JUSTICE NOOTY RAMAMOHANA RAO W.P.NO.8434 OF 2011 ORDER This writ petition has been preferred by a serving conductor of the Andhra Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation (for short “Corporation”) calling in question an order passed on 22-12-2010 by the Depot Manager, Ranigung-II Depot. This order has been passed by the Depot Manager as a measure of punishment. An appeal would lie under Regulation 22 of the APSRTC Employees’ (Classification, Control and fAppeal) Reulations, 1967 to the Divisional Manager, Secunderabad. However, the copy of the punishment order dated 22-12-2010 does not appear to have been served on the writ petitioner by the said authority immediately. Only a copy has been made available to him some time during March, 2011. The time to prefer an appeal being only 30 days, the writ petitioner apprehends that the appellate authority namely the Divisional Manager, Secunderabad would not condone the delay and would not entertain the appeal. However, the appellate authority is bound to look into the grievance of an employee, particularly with regard to disciplinary matters even if the appeals are preferred in a proximate closeness of time to the period already provided for under Regulation 22 referred to supra. The order of punishment is imposed only on 22-12- 2010. Hardly three months time has elapsed. Therefore, if the writ petitioner prefers an appeal to the Divisional Manager, Secunderabad Division, on or before 18th April, 2011 against the order passed by the Depot Manager, Ranigung-II Depot, on 22-12-2010 imposing on him the punishment, the Divisional Manager, Secunderabad Division is directed to entertain the same on merits and dispose of the same within a period of three months thereafter. The Divisional Manager shall not reject the same only on the ground that the appeal has been preferred after the expiry of 30 days period of time. Let a copy of this order be communicated to the Divisional Manager, Secunderabad Division, through the learned Standing Counsel appearing for APSRTC, Sri K.Madhava Reddy. The writ petition stands disposed of with this order. No costs. ______________________________ NOOTY RAMAMOHANA RAO,J rkk Dated: 30-3-2011