Administrative authority must follow due process and principles of natural justice in disciplinary actions under the applicable statutes, ensuring decisions are not arbitrary or colorable.

ORDER :

(Subba Reddy Satti, J.)

The above writ petition is filed seeking the following relief:

“… to issue an appropriate writ, order or direction, more particularly one in the nature of Writ of Mandamus declaring the proceedings bearing Rc.No.DP1/19027(37)/8/2018-1 dated 08.06.2023 and the consequential (i) order bearing Rc.No.DP1/19027(37)/8/2018-2 dated 08.06.2023; (ii) order bearing Rc.No.DP1/19027(37)/8/2018-3 dated 11.06.2023 issued by the 2nd respondent as illegal, unjust, arbitrary, without jurisdiction, violative of principles of natural justice and in violation of Articles 14, 21, 25 and 26 of the Constitution of India and contrary to the subsisting orders of this Hon’ble Court dated 07.09.2006 in WAVM.P.No.1535/2006 in W.A.No.258/2006 and interim orders dt.03.04.2018 in W.P.No.9716/2018 and also contrary to the provisions of Act 30 of 1987 and the Rules made thereunder, and consequently set aside the impugned proceedings dt.08.06.2023 and 11.06.2023 … …”

2. (a) Averments in the affidavit, in brief, are that petitioner, one of the disciples of Sri Devenderdassji Varu was appointed as interim Mahant of the Math by 1st respondent-State on 07.09.1990. The 3rd respondent-Commissioner of Endowments conducted enquiry and having satisfied qua smooth running of the administration of the Math by order dated 06.07.2000 accorded permission to the petitioner to succeed the office of Mathadhipathi under Section 53 (1) of the Andhra Pradesh Charitable and Hindu Religious Institutions and Endowments Act, 1987 (for short “the Act”). By a separate proceeding dated 06.07.2000, the Commissioner of Endowments ordered that the Special Grade Deputy Collector appointed by the Government would continue as custodian of the Math for managing the secular affairs of the Math.

b) Petitioner assumed charge as Mahant of the Math on 18.07.2000 and the Pattabhishekam was performed on 08.10.2000. The Commissioner of Endowments vide proceedings dated 06.09.2000 and 22.09.2000 accorded permission to the custodian to incur necessary expenditure in consultation with the Mahant. Since, the custodian was continued to deal with the management of the Math, and the petitioner was confined to discharge religious activities, petitioner filed W.P.No.4326 of 2002 to direct the Commissioner of Endowments to remove the custodian and to handover the charge of the Math including administration of properties of the Math. The 1st respondent issued proceedings dated 10.10.2002 to show cause as to why the appointment of petitioner as permanent Mahant should not be cancelled. Petitioner filed W.P.M.P.No.29492 of 2002 in W.P.No.5326 of 2002 seeking suspension of operation of notice dated 10.10.2002. The Court by order dated 25.11.2002 granted liberty to the petitioner to submit an explanation to the show cause notice and further directed the 1st respondent to dispose of the matter within eight weeks. Further, ordered that