RAMAKRISHAN DESAI Vs. GOVERNMENT OF A.P.

JUDGEMENT

(1.) In this petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution, the petitioner has prayed for the following relief:

(2.) The facts as narrated by the petitioner are that this matter relates to Ground Water Department, the promotional post in question is the post of Joint Director. There are three wings in Ground Water Department namely (a) Hydrology, (b) Hydrogeology and (c) Geophysics. It is canvassed that upto the post of Deputy Director, each wing is like a separate water tight compartment. However, for the promotional post in question i.e., Joint Director, all the Deputy Directors of three wings are eligible. The cadre strength of Joint Director was two. In the year 1987, the Departmental Promotion Committee (DPC) was constituted for promotion to the post of Deputy Director. The promotions were made on three different dates. A combined seniority list of Deputy Directors was prepared by the Government vide G.O.Ms.No.344, dtd. 24/10/1994.

(3.) The said seniority list was called in question before the then existing Andhra Pradesh Administrative Tribunal (Tribunal) in O.A.No.6974 of 1994. The Tribunal allowed the said OA and issued certain directions regarding preparation of panels for promotion to the post of Joint Director. This order of Tribunal, in absence of challenge, had attained finality.