IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE, ANDHRA PRADESH AT HYDERABAD (Special Original Jurisdiction) MONDAY, THE NINTEENTH DAY OF JULY TWO THOUSAND AND TEN PRESENT THE HON'BLE MRS. JUSTICE T.MEENA KUMARI AND THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE GOPALA KRISHNA TAMADA WRIT PETITION NO : 7220 of 2000 Between: K.Chandra Sekhara Reddy ..... PETITIONER AND Post Master General, Vijayawada Region, Vijayawada and others .....RESPONDENTS The Court made the following : ORAL ORDER: (per THE HON’BLE MRS. JUSTICE T.MEENA KUMARI) The finding of the Central Administrative Tribunal, Hyderabad Bench recorded in O.A. No. 1128 of 1998 dated 9.2.2000, while ordering reinstatement and to conduct de novo enquiry, giving liberty to the respondents herein to put the petitioner off duty if they so desire or deemed put off duty, as deemed fit, is assailed by the petitioner in this writ petition. The petitioner was working as Extra Departmental Branch Post Master, Karabalavolu, under the control of Sub-Post Office of Vojili in Gudur Postal Division, for the last seventeen years. After the checks conducted by the Sub-Divisional Inspector (Postal) on different dates, the petitioner was put off duty from 19.9.1994 and a disciplinary enquiry was contemplated. Charge sheet was served on the petitioner and the Enquiry Officer has submitted his report finding the petitioner guilty for all the four charges and the Disciplinary Authority – third respondent herein also concurred with the said report and the petitioner was issued with the orders of removal by the third respondent by order dated 29.11.1997. Aggrieved thereby, the petitioner preferred an appeal to the second respondent, which was summarily rejected by order dated 17.6.1998. Hence, the petitioner filed the above O.A. assailing the order dated 29.11.1997 with a direction to the respondents to absorb him on regular basis pursuant to the notification dated 5.8.1998. The Tribunal, on extensive consideration of the rival contentions raised before it, observed that since the enquiry was not properly done, ordered de novo enquiry and directed the respondents to reinstate the petitioner herein while setting aside the orders of the Disciplinary and Appellate Authorities and further granted liberty to the respondents to put the petitioner off duty, if they so desire or deemed put off duty, as deemed fit. Aggrieved thereby, the petitioner filed the present writ petition seeking a direction to reinstate him into service without resorting to place him under putt of duty or deemed put off duty, declaring such liberty given to the respondents by the Central Administrative Tribunal as illegal and arbitrary. On 28.8.2000, while issuing rule nisi, this court has granted interim suspension of the order impugned. Heard learned counsel for the petitioner and the learned Central Government Standing Counsel appearing for the respondents. It is represented by the learned Central Government Standing Counsel that in view of the findings of the Tribunal, de novo enquiry ordered is pending. Though several contentions are sought to be raised on behalf of the petitioner, without adverting to merits of the case, we direct that the de novo enquiry be completed within a period of three months from the date of receipt of a copy of this order and appropriate orders be passed. With this direction, the writ petition is disposed of. No order as to costs. ____________________ Justice T.Meena Kumari _________________________ Justice Gopala Krishna Tamada July 19, 2010 MAS