ORDER :

D. RAMESH, J.

W.P.No. 33370 of 2025:

The writ petition is filed seeking the following relief:

“….to issue a writ, order or direction more particularly one in the nature of Writ of Mandamus declaring the Speaking Orders vide C.No.2979892-1/E11.D/2025, Dt.07.11.2025, C.N0.2979892-8/E11.D/ 2025 Dt.21.11.2025 and consequential seniority list vide C.No.2979892-8/E11.D/2025 Dt.21.11.2025 issued by the 2nd respondent as illegal, arbitrary and violative of Articles 14, 16 and 21 of Constitution of India and further declare that the petitioner is entitled to be placed above the 4th respondent and pass….”

W.P.No.33371 of 2025:

The writ petition is filed seeking the following relief:

“…..to issue a writ, order or direction more particularly one in the nature of Writ of Mandamus declaring the Speaking Order C.No.2979892-1/E11.D/2025, Dt.21.11.2025 and consequential seniority list vide C.No.2979892-1/Ell.D/2025 Dt.21.11.2025 issued by the 2nd respondent as illegal, arbitrary and violative of Articles 14, 16 and 21 of Constitution of India an further declare that the 4th respondent is entitled to be placed below the petitioner and pass…..

W.P.No. 33373 of 2025:

The writ petition is filed seeking the following relief:

“…..to issue a writ, order or direction more particularly one in the nature of Writ of Mandamus declaring the Speaking Order C.No.2979892-2/E11.D/2025, Dt.21.11.2025 and consequential seniority list vide C.No.2979892-2/Ell.D/2025 Dt.21.11.2025 issued by the 2nd respondent as illegal, arbitrary and violative of Articles 14, 16 and 21 of Constitution of India and further declare that the petitioner is entitled to be placed above the 4th respondent and pass such…..

Heard Sri M.Vijay Kumar, learned senior counsel for the petitioner/s, learned Government Pleader for Services-I for official respondents and Sri M.Srikanth, learned counsel for the unofficial respondent/s.

The issue involved in all the Writ Petitions is one and the same and hence all the Writ Petitions are being disposed of with a common order by taking W.P.No.33370 of 2025 as a leading case.

2. The petitioner is a post graduate in Dental Surgery (MDS) pursuant to notification for direct recruitment of Assistant Professors-2020 by direct recruitment 442 vacancies and Assistant Professors by way of lateral entry 295 vacancies issued by Director of Medical Education. Pursuant to the said notification, the petitioner participated in the selection process and appointed as Assistant Professor on 02.9.2020. Along with the petitioner several other persons were appointed by way of direct recruitment as well as by way of lateral entry.

3. The next promotion from the post of Assistant Professor is to the post of Associate Professor. Assistant Professor is included in category-9 and the Associate Professor is included in category-7 of the Service Rules covered by A.P.Medical Education Service Rules issued in G.O.Ms.No.154 dated 04.5.2002. The post of Associate Professor (clinical) falls under category-7(a) and Associate Professor (non-clinical) included under category-7(b) of Annexure-I of Rule 3 of the said Rules which is relevant for consideration of the present dispute which reads as follows:

“It is submitted that the next promotion from the post of Assistant Professor (category-9) is to the post of Associate Professor (category-7). The service is governed by the A.P.Medical Education Service Rules issued vide G.O.Ms.No.154 dated 04.5.2002. The petitioner and the respondent no.4 are holding the clinical posts. The post of Associate Professor (clinical) falls under category-(7a) and Associate Professor (non-clinical) under category-(7b). As per Annexure-I to Rule-3, the method of appointment for the post of Associate Professor is

“By promotion of category-9(a) Assistant Professor clinical

(i) Who have put in 5 years of teaching experience in the concerned speciality based on the seniority in the category of Assistant Professor in the concerned speciality, which shall be reckoned from the