CENTRAL ADMINISTRATIVE TRIBUNAL HYDERABAD BENCH, HYDERABAD HYDERABAD, this the 3^rd day of February, 2025 Hon’ble Dr. Lata Baswaraj Patne, Judicial Member Hon’ble Ms. Shalini Misra, Administrative Member

1. A. Nageswara, S/o. A. Naganna, Aged 30 years, Occ: Postman, Anantapur H.O.. ANANTAPUR-515001.

2. G. Madhusudhana, S/o. Late. Nagamuni, ANANTAPUR-515001, S.O.

3.S.Raja Kullayappa, S/o. S. Ganganna, Aged 29 years, Occ: Postman, Georgepeta S.O., ANANTAPUR-515 001.

4. C. Nallappa, S/o. C. Pullanna, Aged 35 years, Occ: Postman, Anantapur H.O., ANANTAPUR-515 001.

5. K.N. Thimma Raju, S/o. K.N. Rangappa, Aged 30 years, Occ: Postman, Anantapur H.O., ANANTAPUR-515 001.

6. C. Nanda Kumar, S/o. C. Ganganna, Aged 29 years, Occ: Postman, Anantapur H.O., ANANTAPUR-515 001.

7. P. Mallikarjuna, S/o. P. Kesappa, Aged 29 years, Occ: Postman, Engineering College S.O., ANANTAPUR - 515 001.

8. E. Sreeramulu, S/o. E. Uthanna, Aged 30 years, Occ: Postman, Anantapur H.O., ANANTAPUR-515 001.

....Applicants (By Advocate : Mr. B. Gurudas)

Vs.

1. Union of India, Rep. by the Director General, Department of Post, Sansad Marg, Dak Bhawan, NEW DELHI-110001.

2. Chief Post Master General, A.P. Circle, Hyderabad-I, Abids, HYDERABAD-500 001 (T.S.)

3. The Post Master General, Kurnool Region Kurnool-518 002.

4. The Superintendent of Post Offices, Anantapur Dn, Anantapur- 515 001, Anantapur Dist. .... Respondents (By Advocate: Mr. M. Venkata Swamy, Sr. PC for CG)

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ORAL ORDER

(As per Hon’ble Dr. Lata Baswaraj Patne, Judicial Member)

By this OA, applicant sought the following relief:

“……to call for the records pertaining to orders issued by the

4th Respondent through his letters No.ST- III/LCDE/LGO/GDS/2013&2014 dated 19.7.2016 (Annexure-I to VIII), addressed to all the Applicants, Notification No. Rectt.I/2-2- /LGO/GDS/ 2013 &14 dated 24.6.2016 (Annexure- IX) and 1^st Respondent letter No. A-14012/04/2016-D dated 24.6.2016 (Annexure-XVIII) and declare the action of the 4th Respondent as illegal, arbitrary, contrary to the Rules and instructions prescribed and in violation of the principles of natural justice and the Articles 14, 16 and 21 of the Constitution of India, and set aside and quash the said illegal orders of the 4th respondent dated 19.7.2016 (Annexure-1 to VIII) with a consequential direction to permit the Applicants to take the PA/SA examination to be held ON 31.7.2016 and select them as per merit and pass such other order or orders as deemed fit and proper in the facts and circumstances of the case and in the interest of justice.”

2. The brief facts of the case are that the Applicants, who were working as Gramena Dak Sevaks on the crucial date of 1.1.2013, submitted their applications to the 4th Respondent through their respective Sub-Divisional heads. As the Applicants did not receive the Hall Permits PA/SA examination held on 31.07.2016, along with others, they have requested the 4th Respondent through their representations dated 14.7.2016 to issue Hall Permits and permit them to appear for the said examination. In response to their representations, the 4th respondent informed the applicants that they have completed 5 years of service as on 1.1.2013, but they are not working as on date/today and therefore, their applications are not recommended vide letters ST-II/LCDE/LGO/GDS/2013&2014 dated 19.7.2016. According to these orders, GDS officials having five (5) years of service as on 1.1.2013 are eligible to take the above examination. On the cut off date, all the applicants have rendered more than 5 years of service and were working physically. They were promoted to Postman's cadre subsequently. Hence, they are eligible to appear for the said examination and compete for the unfilled vacancies for the year 2013/2014. In a similar case, in the year 2012, this Hon'ble Tribunal directed the respondents to permit the applicants in OA No. 1257/2012 & MA No. 764/12 to appear for the PA examination through Order dated 18.10.2012. It is learnt the Sri Venkateswar Naik and Lax