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2026 Supreme(Online)(AP) 19520
IN THE HIGH COURT OF ANDHRA PRADESH AT AMARAVATI
D Ramesh, J
Bandi Anil Kumar – Appellant
Versus
The State of Andhra Pradesh – Respondent
WRIT PETITION NO: 10872/2026
For the Appellants/Petitioners: T Balaji
For the Respondents: GP FOR SERVICES II
The court held that the one-year limitation period for seeking employment under the displaced persons quota (G.O.Ms.No.98) should not be strictly enforced, directing the state to consider eligible candidates based on established judicial precedents and previous court orders.
Headnote:(A) Employment - Displaced Persons Quota - Eligibility under G.O.Ms.No.98 - Limitation Period - The one-year limitation period prescribed in G.O.Ms.No.98, Irrigation and CAD (PW) Department, dated 15.04.1986, cannot be strictly insisted upon in light of subsequent government memos and established judicial precedents. (Para 6)
(B) Writ of Mandamus - Seniority List - Inclusion of eligible candidates - Where the court finds that similarly situated persons have been granted relief based on specific legal interpretations of recruitment quotas, the respondents are directed to consider the petitioners for appointment. (Para 8)
Issues: Whether the petitioners are entitled to be included in the seniority list for employment under the displaced persons quota of Kandaleru Reservoir despite the expiration of the prescribed limitation period.
Petition under Article 226 of the Constitution of India praying that in the circumstances stated in the affidavit filed therewith, the High Court may be pleased be pleased to issue an appropriate writ, order or direction more particularly one in the nature of WRIT OF MANDAMUS declaring the action of the Respondents 2 to 5 in not including the names of the petitioners in the seniority list of 106 candidates, who seeks employment under displaced persons quota of Kandaleru Reservoir vide Memo No. 641/R and R-A2/2012-2, dated 26.12.2014 of the 1st respondent, as per eligibility in terms of G.O.Ms.No.98, Irrigation and CAD (PW) Department, dated 15.04.1986 as illegal, unjust, arbitrary, contrary to Articles 14 and 16 of the Constitution of India and consequently direct the respondents authorities to include the names of the petitioners in the seniority list under displaced persons quota of Kandaleru Reservoir and appoint in any suitable post and to pass such
IA NO: 1 OF 2026
Petition under Section 151 CPC praying that in the circumstances stated in the affidavit filed in support of the petition, the High Court may be pleased may be pleased to direct the respondents to consider the case of the petitioners for inclusion of the names of the petitioners in the seniority list under displaced persons quota of Kandaleru Reservoir, in terms of G.O.Ms.No.98, Irrigation and CAD (PW) Department, dated 15.04.1986 of the 2nd respondent, to appoint in any suitable post in terms of G.O.Ms.No.98, Irrigation and CAD (PW) Department, dated 15.04.1986, pending disposal of the above writ petition and pass such
Counsel for the Petitioner(S):
1. T BALAJI
Counsel for the Respondent(S):
1. GP FOR SERVICES II
THE HONOURABLE SRI JUSTICE D RAMESH
WRIT PETITION NO: 10872 of 2026
The Court made the following Order:
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 action of the Respondents 2 to 5 in not including the names of the petitioners in the seniority list of 106 candidates, who seeks employment under displaced persons quota of Kandaleru Reservoir vide Memo No. 641/R and R-A2/2012-2, dated 26.12.2014 of the 1st respondent, as per eligibility in terms of G.O.Ms.No.98, Irrigation and CAD (PW) Department, dated 15.04.1986 as illegal, unjust, arbitrary, contrary to Articles 14 and 16 of the Constitution of India and consequently direct the respondents authorities to include the names of the petitioners in the seniority list under displaced persons quota of Kandaleru Reservoir and appoint in any suitable post and to pass….”
Heard the learned counsel for the petitioners and the learned Government Pleader for the respondents.
The present Writ Petition is filed seeking to declare the action of respondents 2 to 5 in not including the names of the petitioners in the seniority list of 106 candidates who seek employment under the Displaced Persons quota of the Kandaleru Reservoir Project, pursuant to Memo No.641/R and R-A2/2012-2 dated 26.12.2014 issued by the 1st respondent, despite their eligibility in terms of G.O.Ms.No.98, Irrigation and CAD (PW) Department, dated 15.04.1986, as illegal, unjust, and arbitrary.
Learned counsel for the petitioners submits that in similar facts and circumstances, this Court has already granted relief in W.P. No.33135 of 2023 by order dated 23.01.2025, and therefore the petitioners are also entitled to the same relief.
The petitioners further brought to the notice of this Court that under G.O.Ms.No.98, Irrigation (Project Wing) Department, dated 15.04.1986, the condition of one-year limitation prescribed therein cannot be insisted upon, in view of Government Memo No.480-LAR (2)/87-2, dated 24.08.1987, the orders of the A.P. Administrative Tribunal in O.A.No.7917 of 2003 dated 16.07.2007, the judgment of the Hon’ble High Court in W.P.No.24
