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2026:APHC:17764 APHC010003322026

IN THE HIGH COURT OF ANDHRA PRADESH AT AMARAVATI [3208]

(Special Original Jurisdiction)

WEDNESDAY,THE FIRST DAY OF APRIL TWO THOUSAND AND TWENTY SIX

PRESENT THE HONOURABLE SRI JUSTICE D RAMESH

WRIT PETITION NO: 399/2026 Between:

1. D R B JESSIE, D/O.ANANDA RAO B, AGED 61 YEARS, OCC ASSISTANT DIRECTOR, DIRECTORATE OF PHYSICAL EDUCATION, SRI KRISHNADEVARAYA UNIVERSITY (SKU), R/O. B32, SKU CAMPUS, ITIKALAPALLI, SRI VENKATESWARA

PURAM, ANANTAPUR, ANDHRA PRADESH- 515003.

...PETITIONER AND

1. T HE STATE OF AP, REP., BY ITS PRINCIPAL SECRETARY, EDUCATION DEPARTMENT, SECRETARIAT BUILDINGS,

VELAGAPUDI AMARAVATI, GUNTUR DISTRICT. 2.

2. S RI KRISHNADEVARAYA UNIVERSITY, ANANTAPUR, REP. BY ITS VICE CHANCELLOR ANANTAPUR, DISTRICT. 3.

3. T HE REGISTRAR, SRI KRISHNADEVARAYA UNIVERSITY, ANANTAPU DISTRICT. 4.

4. T HE FINANCE OFFICER, (I/C). FINANCE ACCOUNTS SECTION, SKU, ANANTAPUR DISTRICT. 5.

5. T HE MEDICAL OFFICER, SKU HEALTH CENTRE, SKU, ANANTAPUR DISTRICT.

6. T HE PRINCIPAL, SKU COLLEGE OF ARTS SCIENCES, SKU, ANANTAPUR DISTRICT. 7.

7. T HE DIRECTOR, DOE, SKU, ANANTAPUR DISTRICT. 8.

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8. T HE HEAD, SKIE, SKU, ANANTAPUR DISTRICT. 9.

9. P A TO VICE CHANCELLOR RECTOR REGISTRAR, SKU, ANANTAPUR DISTRICT.

...RESPONDENT(S):

The Court made the following ORDER:

1. This Writ Petition is filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of

India seeking the following relief:

“to issue an appropriate writ/ order or direction more particularly one in the nature of writ of mandamus declaring the Memo No. SKU/N.T.Estt/E3/Retirement/2025 dated 15.12.2025 issued by Respondent No. 3 directing the respondents No. 4 and 9 to settle the sanctioned advances and other dues, if any, for finalization of retirement benefits and fixation of pension of individuals who are required to retire from university services, including me, in accordance with G.O.Ms.No.lO, Higher Education Department, dated 14.02.2024, EC Resolution No. 187-3490 (3.2.11) dated 02.03.2024, and the Vice- Chancellors Order dated 12.12.2025 relating to Age of Superannuation - Prior Intimation - Non-Teaching Establishment, S.K. University, as illegal, arbitrary, contrary to G.O.Ms.No.39, and violative of the Fundamental Rights guaranteed under Articles 14 and 16 of the Constitution of India, and consequently set aside the Memo No.SKU/N.T.Estt/E3/Retirement/2025 dated 15.12.2025 issued by Respondent No.3 and further direct Respondent No. 3 to continue the Petitioners in service till she attains the age of 65 years in accordance with G.O.Ms. No. 39 dated 29.07.2023 with all consequential benefits and

pass…”

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2. Heard the learned counsel for the petitioner and the learned

Government Pleader for the respondents.

3. The case of the petitioner is that the petitioner was appointed as Assistant Director of Physical Education in the 2^nd respondent University in the year 2006 and has been continuing in the said post since then. However, the 3rd respondent issued the impugned proceedings dated 15.12.2025 treating the petitioner as part of the non-teaching establishment and thereby denied him the benefit of the relevant Government Orders, which is illegal, arbitrary and contrary to the

applicable statutory provisions.

4. A similar issue relating to the very same University came up for consideration before a Coordinate Bench of this Court in W.P.No.7973 of 2020, by order dated 09.02.2026, in Sri G. Gangadharaiah vs. State of

Andhra Pradesh and others, wherein this Court observed as follows:-

12. As per the statute of the University, the teachers of the University shall comprise Professors, Associate Professors. Assistant Professors, and such others who may be classified as Teachers of the University from time to time It further provides that the following categories shall also be treated as equivalent positions of Teachers of the

University as per UGC guidelines:

Librarian, Deputy Librarian, Assistant Librarian, Director of Physical Education, Deputy Director o