Petitioner is presently working as Forest Section Officer/Forester and aspiring for promotion as Deputy Range Officer. Petitioner was served with charge memo dated 13.2.2017. It is alleged that petitioner allowed the sawmill owners to use additional saw bands in their sawmills violating the orders of the Hon’ble Supreme Court in W.P. No. 202 of 1995 and failed to implement A.P. Sawmill (Regulation) Rules, 1969. Petitioner filed his written statement of defense on 23.10.2017 denying the allegations. He was served with notice dated 18.5.2018 informing him that enquiry is fixed on 1.6.2018. On 1.6.2018 petitioner appeared before the Enquiry Officer and submitted his written statement of defense. According to petitioner, 8 persons were promoted as Deputy Range Officers on 24.10.2017, out of them 4 were juniors to him and two more were promoted on 2.4.2018. Alleging that he is illegally ignored for promotion by promoting his juniors and that for no fault on him, disciplinary proceedings are not concluded, this writ petition is filed.

2. Learned counsel for petitioner would submit that promotion to the post of Deputy Range Officer is based on seniority; that it is non-selection pos