D MASTAN REDDY Vs. STATE OF A P

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The Government of India introduced the NREGS scheme. Apart from providing the mechanism to implement it, it has also evolved the process of supervision thereof by a set of persons known as "Ombudsmen" to be appointed for each District. The instructions in this regard are issued by the Ministry of Rural Development, Government of India, through order, dated 07.07.2009. The instructions are to the effect that the Ombudsmen shall be appointed for a tenure of two years extendible by one more year, based upon the performance appraisal. Such appraisal is to be undertaken by the selection committee.

(2.) The Government of A.P. issued a notification, inviting applications for the appointment of Ombudsmen for various Districts. The Petitioners herein and several others applied. The selection committee recommended the names of the Petitioners for the respective Districts. Through orders in G.O. Ms. No. 291, dated 10.08.2010, the State Government appointed Ombudsmen for 17 Districts. The tenure was mentioned as one year extendible by another year.

(3.) The original term of the Petitioners ended by August 2011. Out of 17 Ombudsmen appointed through G.O. Ms. No. 291, four have resigned, three were given extension by one more year and 10 including the Petitioners are sought to be discontinued. Hence, these two writ petitions.