ORDER :

Heard Sri Vedula Venkata Ramana, learned Senior Counsel, Sri A. Satya Prasad, learned Senior Counsel, learned Additional Advocate General, Sri P.B. Vijayakumar, Sri P.V. Ramana, Sri J. Sudheer, Sri P.S.P. Suresh Kumar, Sri Ugra Narasimha, and Sri N.V. Sumanth, Advocates for the parties.

2. There are 14 State Universities in the State of Andhra Pradesh. The teaching staff in these Universities consist of lecturers, readers and professors. These posts were redesignated as Assistant Professors, Associate Professors and Professors. Until the year 1982, reservation was provided only for the posts of lecturers. The Government, by way of G.O.Ms.No.927 Education Department dated 20.11.1982 extended reservations to the posts of readers also. The method of implementing the reservation for these posts was set out in G.O.Ms.No.995, Education (c) Department, dated 16.12.1982. The relevant portions of the G.O. are set out below:

“Point No.(1):

The principle of carry forward of vacancies in Government posts has been clearly indicated in Rule 22 of Andhra Pradesh State and Subordinate Service Rules. The same procedure shall be adopted by the Universities, constituent colleges and Post Graduate centres also in regard to carry forward of vacancies.

Point No.(2):

Keeping in view the decision taken in the Vice-Chancellors’ conference held at Tirupathi on 09.04.1981 Government directed that the reservation in the Teaching Posts should be made by grouping the faculties as indicated below:

Group I Arts, Commerce, Business Management, Law, Social Sciences and Education including all languages.

Group II Sciences

Group III Engineering and Technology

Each group should be treated as a single unit and the roster system prescribed in Rule 22 of the General Rules should be followed.

Point No.(3):

All appointments of Readers to be made with effect from 20.11.1982 shall be in accordance with the orders issued in G.O.Ms.No.927, Edn., dated 20.11.1982 and the carry forward rule shall be applicable for the vacancies that arise on and from 20/11/1982. Scheduled castes/Schedules Tribes/Backward Class candidates selected and appointed on merit against open competition should not be counted against the reserved quota.”

3. The above method was slightly modified by way of G.O.Ms.No.420, dated 18.11.1995. By G.O.Ms.No.928, dated 6.10.1995, Rule 22-A of the Andhra Pradesh State and Subordinate Service Rules was amended providing reservation to women in public services. By G.O.Ms.No.456, Education Department, dated 21.12.1995 the Government extended this reservation given to women, to teaching and non-teaching staff of the Universities by adopting sub-rule (2) of Rule 22-A of the State and Subordinate Service Rules for Universities. The relevant provisions being:

“3. The Government after careful consideration, hereby order that sub-rule 2 of rule 22-A of the State and Sub- Ordinate Serv