G VEERAIAH Vs. GOVERNMENT OF ANDHRA PRADESH

JUDGEMENT

(1.) This Writ Petition is directed against an order dated 30-4-1999 passed by the Andhra Pradesh Administrative Tribunal in O.A. Nos. 2196 of 1993 and 7066 of 1997.

(2.) The basic fact of the matter is not in dispute. The petitioner was appointed as Junior Assistant in Pothukatla Gram Panchayat. His services have been regularised by the District Panchayat Officer, Ongole by a proceeding dated 19-5-1984 with effect from 6-7-1981. He was put on probation and said to have been successfully completed his period of probation w.e.f. 5-7-1983. At his request, by proceedings of the Collector dated 6-2-1989 he was transferred to the Unit of the District Panchayat Officer. However, subsequently, by a proceeding dated 17-9-1990 he was reverted to his parent unit of Gram Panchayat. Petitioner challenged the said order before the Tribunal in O.A.No. 58182 of 1990. On a clarification sought by the District Panchayat Officer, the Government in its Memo No. 57524/Estt.Do/92-2, dated 17-10-1992 clarified that as the transfer of the petitioner was within the district, his seniority has to be reckoned from the date of his original appointment i.e., 6-7-1981. Basing on the said clarification, the seniority of the petitioner in the category of Junior Assistants was reckoned from 6-7-1981 and he was promoted as Senior Assistant on 12-4-1993. Aggrieved by the Memo dated 17-10-1992, one Sri G. Prabhakar who is working as Junior Assistant in the Unit of the District Panchayat Officer has filed O.A-No. 2196 of 1993.

(3.) While things stood thus, the petitioner was promoted as Extension Officer (Panchayats) by the proceedings of the Commissioner of Panchayat Raj dated 2-8-1997 and subsequently based on the revised seniority in the category of Junior Assistants with reference to Govt. Memo dated 17-10-92 he was given notional promotion w.e.f. 8-11-1995 by the proceedings of the Commissioner dated 24-9-1997. Aggrieved by the said notional promotion given to the petitioner, one Sri V.V.M. Lakshmanarao who was working as Extension Officer (Panchayats) from 8-11-1995 has filed O.A.No. 7066 of 1997. The Govt. Memo dated 17-10-1992 was also called in question in the said O.A. The Tribunal disposed O.A.No. 58182 of 1990, O.A.No. 2196 of 1996 and O.A. No. 7066 of 1997 by a common order which is impugned in this Writ Petition.