Engagement of Advocates as Law Officers is a professional arrangement, not subject to Writ Jurisdiction under Articles 14 and 16, affirming the Government's discretion to appoint and terminate without civil service protections.

ORDER :

GANNAMANENI RAMAKRISHNA PRASAD, J.

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Heard Sri P.A. Seshu, Ld. Counsel appearing on behalf of Sri P.V.Venkata Ravi Sankar, Ld. Counsel for the Writ Petitioner (in W.P.No.21413 of 2025), Sri Thandava Yogesh, Ld. Counsel for the Writ Petitioner (in W.P.No.21494 of 2025), and Sri A. Srikanth Reddy, Ld. Government Pleader for Law & Legislative Affairs.

2. These two Writ Petitions involve similar facts and similar legal issues. Therefore, both the cases are heard together and are disposed of by this Common Order.

3. For the sake of convenience, this Court would rely on the facts mentioned in the Affidavit filed in support of the Writ Petition in W.P.No.21413 of 2025. W.P.No.21413 of 2025:

4. The Writ Petitioner herein, who is a practicing Advocate was appointed as Assistant Government Pleader in the Court of Civil Judge (Junior Division), Vijayawada, NTR District for a period of three years vide G.O.Rt.No.116 Law (G) Department, dated 12.03.2024 (Ex.P.2). The said appointment is made subject to the conditions of service in accordance with the Instructions issued in G.O.Ms.No.187, Law (L) Department, dated 06.12.2000 (Ex.P.3). The said appointment has been made basing on the recommendation of the District Collector, NTR District (Respondent No.3) through the Letter dated 22.11.2023 to the Secretary, Law and Legislative Affairs& Justice, Department of Law, Government of Andhra Pradesh (Respondent No.2).

5. Vide impugned Proceeding bearing G.O.Rt.No.251, dated 31.07.2025 (Ex.P.1), the Writ Petitioner was disengaged from his services as Assistant Government Pleader in the Court of the Civil Judge (Junior Division), Vijayawada. A further direction was also given in the impugned Order (Ex.P.1) to the District Collector, NTR District to make interim arrangement for the vacated post by appointing a Law Officer from a nearby Court as in- charge and to further submit a panel of candidates at the earliest in accordance with the ‘Instructions’ issued by the Government in G.O.Ms. No.187 Law (L) Department, dated 06.12.2000 (Ex.P.3). The Impugned Order would also indicate that the District Collector was directed to pay one month salary in lieu of one month Notice for his disengagement in accordance with Instruction No.9 of the G.O.Ms. No.187 Law (L) Department, dated 06.12.2000 (Ex.P.3).

W.P.No.21494 of 2025:

6. The Writ Petitioner herein who is a practicing Advocate was appointed as Additional Government Pleader in the Court of Additional District Judge’s Court, Vijayawada, NTR District for a period of three years vide G.O.Rt.No.115 Law (G) Department, dated 12.03.2024 (Ex.P.2). The said appointment is made subject to the conditions of service in accordance with the Instructions issued in G.O.Ms.No.187, Law (L) Department, dated 06.12.2000 (Ex.P.3). The said appointment has been made basing on the recommendation of the District Collector, NTR District (Respondent No.2) through the Letter dated 16.11.2023 to the Secretary, Law and Legislative Affairs & Justice, Department of Law, Government of Andhra Pradesh.

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7. Vide impugned Proceeding bearing G.O.Rt.No.250, dated 31.07.2025 (Ex.P.1), the Writ Petitioner was disengaged from his services as Additional Government Pleader in the Court of the Additional District Judge’s Court, Vijayawada, NTR District. A further direction was also given in the impugned Order (Ex.P.1) to the District Collector, NTR District to make interim arrangement for the vacated post by appointing a Law Officer from a nearby Court as in-charge and to further submit a panel of candidates at the earliest in accordance with the ‘Instructions’ issued by the Government in G.O.Ms. No.187 Law (L) Department, dated 06.12.2000 (Ex.P.3). The Impugned Order would a