IN THE HIGH COURT FOR THE STATE OF TELANGANA, HYDERABAD
T. Amarnath Goud, J.
Degala Satyanarayana - Petitioner
Versus
State of Telangana Rep. By its Secretary to Government Legal Affairs, Legislative affairs and Justice Law (LA, LA & J. Home Courts A.1) and Others- Respondents
W.P.No.7266 of 2021
Decided On : 09-06-2021
Andhra Pradesh Law Officers (Appointment and Conditions of Service) Instructions, 2000 – Service Laws – Appointment of Public Prosecutor – Expiry of Tenure – Petitioner was appointed as Additional Public Prosecutor in Court of the VI Additional District & Sessions Judge, vide G.O.Rt. and upon expiry of period of three years, third respondent herein, by virtue of his powers conferred under Instruction 11 of G.O., continued petitioner for a period of three months beyond his tenure from 19.3.2018 to 18.6.2018 and subsequently from 19.6.2018 till regular appointment of Additional Public Prosecutor to said Court is made – Said action of third respondent herein was ratified by Government vide G.O.Rt – Petitioner is continuing in said post as such without any allegation of any kind at any point of time – While so, services of petitioner came to an end by 18.3.2021 – As such second respondent issued impugned proceedings which were served on petitioner through email – Grievance of petitioner is that as on date appointment of regular Additional Public Prosecutor to said Court has not been made and hence impugned proceedings are without jurisdiction – Very grievance of petitioner is that there is no provision of appointing in-charge for post of Additional Public Prosecutor while duly appointed person is rendering his services in accordance with G.O.Rt. and hence impugned orders are arbitrary – Held, question of violation of principles of natural justice under present facts of case do not arise. – First period of appointment of the petitioner is from 19.03.2015 to 18.03.2018 and second set of period of appointment of petitioner is from 19.03.2018 to 18.03.2021. – It came to an end by afflux of time and after last date of his service, petitioner ceases to continue and thus he has no locus standi to question appointment of Mr.Mallaiah and also cannot challenge his so called termination order. – It is client and Advocate relationship between petitioner and respondent. – Second term which petitioner continued from 19.03.2018 to 18.03.2021 is as an in-charge and it do not confer any legitimate right upon the petitioner to continue for further period. – Petitioner cannot force respondent to permit him to continue as Additional Public Prosecutor. – Respondent is free to engage services of his counsel or terminate services as per his requirement. – An Advocate cannot compel his client to continue his vakalat against will of client and as a consequence, he cannot claim as a matter of right to continue his service. – Court is of firm view that petitioner has not made out case either in terms of violation of law or violation of his lawful right and its infringement. – Writ Petition is devoid of any merit and is liable to be dismissed. – Writ Petition Dismissed
ORDER :
1. In this Writ Petition the petitioner seeks a direction to declare the action of the second respondent in issuing the proceedings No.72/A2/2015, dated 18.3.2021, which are impugned herein, terminating the services of the petitioner from the post of Additional Public Prosecutor in the Court of the VI Additional District & Sessions Judge, Mahabubabad, with effect from 19.3.2021 as illegal and arbitrary.
2. The case of the petitioner, in brief, is that in pursuance of the guidelines laid down in G.O.Ms.No.187, dated 06.12.2000, the petitioner was appointed as Additional Public Prosecutor in the Court of the VI Additional District & Sessions Judge, Mahabubabad, on 18.3.2015, vide G.O.Rt.No.206 dated 18.3.2015 and upon expiry of the period of three years on 18.3.2018, the third respondent herein, by virtue of his powers conferred under Instruction 11 of the G.O.No.187, continued the petitioner for a period of three months beyond his tenure from 19.3.2018 to 18.6.2018 and subsequently from 19.6.2018 till regular appointment of Additional Public Prosecutor to the said Court is made. The said action of the third respondent herein was ratified by the Government vide G.O.Rt.No.1053 dated 19.7.2018. The petitioner is continuing in the said post as such without any allegation of any kind at any point of time. While so, the services of the petitioner came to an end by 18.3.2021. As such the second respondent issued the impugned proceedings which were served on the petitioner through email. The grievance of the petitioner is that as on date the appointment of regular Additional Public Prosecutor to the said Court has not been made and hence the impugned proceedings are without jurisdiction.
3. The respondents filed counter contending inter-alia that the Government issued orders of amendment to Instruction No.11 of the G.O.Ms.No.187 dated 06.12.2000, vide G.O.Rt.No.591 Law (L2) Department dated 06.4.2010, by virtue of which the second respondent herein may take interim arrangements in case of death, resignation, absence, expiry of term of the Public Prosecutors where there is necessity and urgency and obtain ratification from the Government and in pursuance of which the second respondent issued the impugned proceedings terminating the services of the petitioner with effect from 19.3.2021 in consonance with the standing instructions of the Government issued through Memo No.915/LSP/RL/L1/02, dated 01.7.2002 wherein it has been directed to terminate the engagement of a Law Officer appointed in a subordinate court after expiry of period of six years in office at a stretch either by way of appointment in successive terms or where a Law Officer is initially appointed for a period of three years and thereafter he is continued on in charge basis for a further period of three years and that in such cases other nearby Law Officer or an eligible advocate may be placed in charge of the post.
4. The learned counsel for the petitioner submits that there is no provision of appointing in-charge for the post of Additional Public Prosecutor while the duly appointed person is rendering his services in accordance with G.O.Rt.No.1053 dated 19.7.2018. He further submits that no notice is served on the petitioner well in advance as per instruction No.9 of G.O.Ms.No.187 dated 16.12.2000. It is his final submission that the termination of the services of the petitioner on the ground of completion of six years term is arbitrary as the list of names of second panel of advocates is still pending before the Government. The learned counsel relied on the judgment of the erstwhile High Court of Andhra Pradesh held between Pathuri Venkateswarlu V. Government of A.P., (2005) 1 ALD (Cri) 658.
5. Heard the learned Government Pleader for Home and perused the record.
6. The very grievance of the petitioner is that there is no provision of appointing in-charge for the post of Additional Public Prosecutor while the duly appointed person is rendering his services in accordance
The government holds discretion to terminate appointments of Public Prosecutors without inquiry or specific reasons, provided procedural mandates of applicable instructions are adhered to, maintainin....
The central legal point established in the judgment is the petitioner's ineligibility for appointment as an Additional Public Prosecutor after the expiration of his term, as per the relevant rules an....
Government servants, who are amenable to Kerala Public Services Act and hence, the abovesaid KGLO Rules, cannot be said to be statutory.
Point of law: irrespective of the executive or judicial nature of the office of the public prosecutor, it is certain that one expects impartiality and fairness from it in criminal prosecution
The State Government must conform to statutory procedures when making appointments to public offices to ensure the rule of law is upheld.
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