ORDER :

1. The writ petition is filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India seeking the following relief:

“…issue an appropriate Writ or direction more particularly one in the nature of Writ of Mandamus by declaring the entire procedure adopted by the 1st respondent for placing the petitioner’s name below the person who secured last rank in the present impugned seniority list drawn and Ref.No.A4/1554/2019, dated 10.02.2020 than that of the petitioner as highly illegal, arbitrary, unjust, improper, contrary to the provisions of Rule 33(b) of A.P.State and Subordinate Service Rules r/w clarification letter issued by the 3rd respondent vide CCLA’s Ref.No.Ser.IV (1)/303/2019, dated NIL.10.2019 including contrary to various judicial pronouncements and clear violative of all cannons of law and set aside the same and consequently to hold that the placement of the petitioner shown in the earlier integrated seniority list drawn vide Ref.No.A4/1554/2019, dt:23.12.2019 of the 1st respondent holds good for all the purposes and further direct the respondents, particularly 1st respondent to re-fix the seniority of the petitioner in the cadre of Village Revenue Assistant by strictly following the principle of merit/ ranking assigned by the selection committee at the time of selection as criteria and not date of joining, as the criteria and pass such other order or orders as the Court may deem fit and proper in the circumstances of the case.”

2. Pursuant to the notification issued by the 1st respondent dated 07.12.2011 for Direct Recruitment for the post of Village Revenue Assistant, petitioner appeared and secured 64 marks with first rank. Since the candidature of the petitioner is ignored, she was constrained to approach the Tribunal by filing O.A.No.6264 of 2012. The Hon’ble Tribunal by its order dated 21.12.2012 allowed the O.A and directed the respondents therein to appoint the petitioner as Village Revenue Assistant of Chanduvai Village. Accordingly, the petitioner was issued posting orders vide Ref. No.A/2681/2011, dated 22.02.2013 by Sub-Collector, Rajampet. After issuance of the posting orders, petitioner joined duty on 28.02.2013.

(a) 1st respondent, being the competent authority, has drawn integrated seniority list among Village Revenue Assistants working in YSR Kadapa District vide proceedings dated 01.04.2016 and called for objections from the individuals. The name of the petitioner was shown at Sl.No.120. The seniority list was drawn by following rank/merit assigned by the Selection Committee during the process of selection.

(b) 1st respondent has drawn final seniority list and communicated to Tahsildars in the District/RDO’s and requested to publish the said list in all concerned offices vide Ref.No.A4/1335/2016, dated 08.11.2017. In the said list, the name of the petitioner was included at Sl.No.148. The list was prepared in terms of Rule 33(b) of State and Subordinate Service Rules as well as merit list issued by the Selection Committee.

(c) As the matter stood thus, the 1st respondent has drawn up provisional seniority list of VRAs working in the District vide Ref.No.A4/1554/2019, dated 28.08.2019 and requested the Tahsildars/RDOs in the District to publish the said list calling for objections if any within seven (7) days from the date of its publication. The name of the petitioner was shown at Sl.No.1683. Petitioner submitted her objections. However, the 1st respondent without rectifying the mistake, has drawn up another provisional seniority list of VRAs in the District vide Ref.No.A4/1554/2019, dated 24.12.2019 and requested the Tahsildars/RDOs to publish the said list in the offices duly calling for objections if any. In the said seniority list, the name of the petitioner is shown at Sl.No.1563. Finally, integrated seniority list of VRAs was prepared vide proceedings in Ref.No.A4/1554/2019, dated 10.02.2020. The name of the petitioner was shown at Sl.No.1684. Assailing the same, the above writ petition is filed.