G.S. Singhvi, C.J.

Whether the doctrine of equality enshrined in Article 14 can be invoked by the High Court for issue of a mandamus to the State or its instrumentalities/agencies or any public authority to pass an illegal order or commit an illegality on the premise that in a similar case, such an illegal order has been passed or illegality has been committed by the State etc. is the question which arises for determination in this appeal filed by Shri Y.V. Subramanya Kumar against order dated 2.1.2007 passed by the learned Single Judge in Writ Petition No.24158 of 2007.

The appellant worked as a labour under various contractors, who were awarded different works by the erstwhile Andhra Pradesh State Electricity Board (for short, ‘the Board’). In the year 1997, he along with some others filed Writ Petition No.23578 of 1997 for issue of a mandamus to the Board to absorb them in the regular establishment in accordance with the policy contained in B.P.Ms.No.36, dated 18.5.1997. The learned Single Judge on 18.9.1997 disposed the same of with a direction to the respondents to consider the cases of the petitioners in accordance with the policy framed by the Board. Thereafter, th