The court mandates timely consideration of representations for status conferred under statutory provisions.

ORDER:

With the consent of both parties, this Writ Petition is disposed of at the admission stage itself.

2. Heard Sri M. Naga Deepak, learned counsel for the petitioner, learned Government Pleader for Services-I for respondent Nos.1 and 2, Sri P.S. Rajasekhar Reddy, learned Standing Counsel for TGPSC, for respondent No.3, and learned Government Pleader for Services-II for respondent No.4. Perused the material on record.

3. Brief facts of the case are that the petitioner is a registered and recognized association comprising officers in the Commercial Taxes Department, including those serving in the cadre of Assistant Commercial Tax Officers, presently re-designated as Deputy State Tax Officers (DSTOs). The said officers perform statutory, executive, and quasi-judicial functions under the Telangana VAT Act , 2005, and the GST Act , including registration, inspections, levying of penalties, and confiscation of goods.

4. The Association has been pursuing the matter of conferring Gazetted status on the said cadre since 2017. The initial representation was submitted on 23.02.2017, followed by subsequent representations on 03.05.2017, 24.01.2018, and the latest dated 19.05.2025, which was received by the Government on 22.05.2025. The Commissioner of Commercial Taxes, Hyderabad, supported the request through multiple communications, including Ref.No.C(DX)/323/2017, dated 03.06.2017, and again on

29.03.2022 and 13.10.2022.

5. The First Pay Revision Commission, Telangana, in its 2020 Report (Chapter XV, Para 15.10), recommended Gazetted status for the cadre. Additionally, similar posts in other departments such as Deputy Tahsildars, Sub-Registrars, and Assistant Labour Officers have been granted Gazetted status. Notably, the Government of Andhra Pradesh, vide G.O.Ms.No.212, dated 06.04.2022, conferred Gazetted status upon GST Officers who perform identical functions.

6. Despite multiple representations and clear recommendations, no final decision has been taken by the respondents, leading to the filing of the present Writ Petition.

7. Learned counsel for the petitioner submits that appropriate orders be passed in this Writ Petition, directing the respondents to consider the representation submitted by the petitioner on

19.05.2025 and pass appropriate orders in accordance with law.

8. Learned Government Pleader appearing for the respondents, did not dispute the submissions made by the learned counsel for the petitioner.

9. Taking into consideration the submissions made by the learned counsel for the respective parties, without going into the merits of the case, this Writ Petition is disposed of, directing respondent Nos.2 and 4 to consider the petitioner’s representation dated 19.05.2025, and pass appropriate orders in accordance with law, as expeditiously as possible, preferably, within a period of eight (8) weeks from the date of receipt of a copy of this order.

There shall be no order as to costs.

As a sequel, miscellaneous applications pending, if any, in this Writ Petition, shall stand closed.