V. RAMASUBRAMANIAN, J.

1. The petitioner, who appeared for selection to the post of Civil Judge (Junior Division), in response to a notification issued on 16.08.2016 has come up with the above writ petition challenging the selection of the 7th respondent herein under the quota reserved for Scheduled Castes, on the ground that he does not belong to the Scheduled Castes.`

2. We have heard Mr. G. Vidya Sagar learned Senior Counsel for the petitioners, the learned Government Pleader for Law, for the State of Andhra Pradesh, learned Government Pleader for Law, for the State of Telangana, Mr. S. Sri Ram, learned Standing Counsel for the Registry of the High Court and Mr. Chandraiah Naidu, learned counsel appearing for the 7th respondent.

3. By a notification issued on 16.08.2016, applications were invited for recruitment of 53 Civil Judges (Junior Division). After a written test held on 19.02.2017 and interviews conducted on 12.04.2017, a provisional list of selected candidates was published on 29.04.2017 and it was communicated to the State Government on 16.05.2017. The name of the petitioner found a place in the said list.

4. However, by a notification dated 16.08.2017, the name