1. The petitioner, who is employed as Assistant Textile Designer in the Directorate of Handloom and Apparel Export Park, Hyderabad, has come up with the above writ petition challenging an order of the Andhra Pradesh Administrative Tribunal, Hyderabad, rejecting his plea for the creation of a promotional post for him.

2. Heard Mr. D. Rama Krishna, learned counsel for the petitioner and the learned Government Pleader for Services-I (Andhra Pradesh) appearing for the respondents nos. 1 and 2.

3. The petitioner was originally selected and appointed as Assistant Textile Designer, by the proceedings dated 31.7.1989. At the time of his appointment, the petitioner had an avenue of promotion to the next higher post of Textile Designer. But the post of Textile Designer was abolished by the Government, by proceedings dated 13.8.1996.

4. Therefore, the petitioner filed an application in O.A. No. 5642 of 1996 on the file of the A.P. Administrative Tribunal, challenging the abolition of the post of Textile Designer and seeking at least the equation of the post of Assistant Textile Designer to that of Development Officer so that he could gain promotion to the post of Assistant Director.

5. The