APHC010014322026 IN THE HIGH COURT OF ANDHRA PRADESH [3460]

AT AMARAVATI (Special Original Jurisdiction)

THURSDAY,THE EIGHTH DAY OF JANUARY TWO THOUSAND AND TWENTY SIX PRESENT THE HONOURABLE SRI JUSTICE NYAPATHY VIJAY WRIT PETITION NO: 933/2026 Between:

M Lakshmamma and Others ...PETITIONER(S)

AND The State Of Andhra Pradesh and Others ...RESPONDENT(S)

Counsel for the Petitioner(S):

1. PRAKASH BUDDARAPU Counsel for the Respondent(S):

1. GP FOR SERVICES I The Court made the following:

THE HON’BLE SRI JUSTICE NYAPATHY VIJAY W.P.No.933 of 2026

O R DE R:

The present Writ Petition is filed questioning the action of the Respondents in taking steps on the Proceedings of the Respondent No.3 vide Rs.No.294315/Plg-DME/2025, dated

12.09.2025 as illegal and arbitrary.

2. The petitioners have been working as Sweepers on an outsourcing basis for a considerable number of years. While issuing the Tender Notice for supply of manpower for the ensuing period, the respondent authorities imposed two conditions, namely, possession of a bachelor’s degree for the supervisory post and a maximum age limit of 50 years. Aggrieved by the imposition of these conditions, the petitioners have filed the present writ petition contending that the same amount to termination of their services in the guise of prescribing eligibility criteria.

3. Learned Assistant Government Pleader on instructions submits that a Writ Petition was filed by the A.P. Medical Contract Employees and Workers Union vide W.P.No.34611 of

2025, and this Court had disposed of the Writ Petition wherein a similar question regarding the imposition of a maximum age limit on outsourcing workers as 50 years was questioned. It is stated that in the Writ Petition, this Court granted liberty to the Petitioners to make a comprehensive representation to the Respondents, and until further orders are passed, the services of the workers were not to be terminated on the ground that they are aged over 50 years. In addition to the above, the petitioners in the present writ petition are challenging the qualification prescribed in the tender conditions, i.e., the degree qualification.

4. Heard the respective counsel.

5. Considering that similar issue was considered by this Court in W.P.No.34611 of 2025, the present Writ Petition is disposed of as under:

i) The Petitioners are at liberty to make a comprehensive representation before the Respondent Authorities for consideration of their grievances with reference to the impugned Proceedings, dated 12.09.2025, within a period of two (02) weeks from the date of receipt of the order. Upon submission of such representation, the Respondent Authorities shall pass appropriate orders within a period of four (04) weeks thereafter, after granting opportunity of hearing and making submissions of any authorized representative of the petitioner’s Association. Until such orders are passed, the respondent(s) shall not terminate the services of sweepers on the basis that they are over 50 years old and lack of Bachelor’s Degree.

ii) There shall be no order as to costs.

As a sequel, the miscellaneous petitions, if any, pending in this Petition shall stand closed __________________ NYAPATHY VIJAY, J Date: 08.01.2026 eha THE HONOURABLE SRI JUSTICE NYAPATHY VIJAY WRIT PETITION NO: 933/2026 Dt. 08.01.2026 eha