IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE, ANDHRA PRADESH AT HYDERABAD (Special Original Jurisdiction) THURSDAY, THE TWENTY FIRST DAY OF AUGUST TWO THOUSAND AND EIGHT PRESENT THE HON'BLE SRI JUSTICE L.NARASIMHA REDDY WRIT PETITION No. 18085 of 2008 Between: Y.Chandra Mohan (15159749) S/o.Y.Prem Kumar R/o.B-5, Arjun Apts., Tarbund, Secunderabad-9. ..... PETITIONER AND 1 Union of India, rep. by its Principal Secretary Ministry of Defence, South Block, New Delhi-11. 2 68 Fd. Regiment (Parbat Ali) PIN-925768 C/O 99 APO 3 HQ 54 Arty Bde (A) PIN-926954 C/O 56 APO .....RESPONDENTS Petition under Article 226 of the constitution of India praying that in the circumstances stated in the Affidavit filed herein the High Court will be pleased to issue a Writ, order or direction more particularly one in the nature of Writ of Mandamus declaring the inaction of Respondent No.3 in not disposing of the appeal filed by the petitioner against the punishment awarded by the summary court martial as illegal, unjust and consequently direct Respondent No.3 to consider and dispose of the said appeal as expeditiously as possible preferably within 4 weeks from the date of receipt of the order and pass such other order or orders. Counsel for the Petitioner: MR.C.M.R.VELU Counsel for the Respondents: Smt. KMJD Shyam Sundari (Additional Standing Counsel for Central Government) The Court made the following ORDER: The petitioner joined the Indian Army, but was dismissed after conducting court martial, vide proceedings, dated 20.01.2007. He preferred an appeal to the third respondent on 10.03.2008 after approaching this Court and the Hon’ble Supreme Court on earlier occasions. His grievance is that the appeal has not been disposed of, as yet. It is represented that the second respondent, who conducted the court martial, has already forwarded the record to the appellate authority in the month of March, 2008. Heard the learned counsel for the petitioner and the learned Standing Counsel for the respondents. The petitioner had availed the statutory remedy of appeal before the first respondent, aggrieved by the order, dated 20.01.2007. Inasmuch as the petitioner has been dismissed from service, the matter needs to be examined with a bit of urgency. It is represented that in the ordinary course also, the appeals have to be disposed of within six months from the date of presentations. Be that as it may, the writ petition is disposed of, directing the third respondent to pass orders on the appeal preferred by the petitioner, within a period of six weeks from the date of receipt of a copy of this order. It is also directed that in case the appeal has been already disposed of, nothing further needs to be done at their end. There shall be no order as to costs. __________________ L.NARASIMHA REDDY,J Dt:21.08.2008 kdl