ORDER

1. Despite service respondents.

2. Leave granted.

3. This appeal is directed against the judgment and order dated 30 - 4 - 2003 passed by the Division Bench of the Andhra Pradesh High Court at Hyderabad in WA No. 499 of 2003 whereby and whereunder the judgment and order passed by the learned Single Judge directing regularisation of the services of the respondents was affirmed.

4. The short question which arose for consideration before the High Court as also before us is as to whether the respondents fulfilled the requirements for regularisation of their services as contained in the guidelines issued by the Andhra Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation.

5. The contention of the learned counsel for the appellants before us is that the respondents did not fulfil the said conditions. The High Court, however, proceeded on the basis that the circular applies even to those who were engaged on contract labour on consolidated pay.

6. The High Court did not have the benefit of considering the recent decisions of this Court including the Constitution Bench judgment in Secy., State of Karnataka v. Umadevi (3)1. In the said decision it has categorically been held that the appointments m