ORDER

This Writ Petition, under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, is filed seeking the following relief:

“…to issue a Writ of Mandamus or any other appropriate writ/direction declaring impugned Office Order No:E1/1/(123)/2014–SRCL, Dt:19-01-2016 issued by the 3rd Respondent Depot Manager imposing the punishment of deferment of annual increment of the petitioner for a period of two years with cumulative effect on future increments for the alleged unauthorized absence as being illegal, arbitrary, contrary to law, besides violative of Articles 14, 16 & 21 of the Constitution India consequently set aside the impugned Officer Order Dt:19-01-2016 directing the respondents to extend all the benefits that were denied pursuant to the impugned Office Order and to pass…”

2. Heard Sri Jithender Rao Veeramalla, learned counsel appearing for the petitioner and Sri Gaddam Srinivas, learned Standing Counsel for Telangana State Road Transport Corporation, appearing for respondent Nos.1 to 3. With their consent, the writ petition is taken up for disposal at admission stage.

3. Learned counsel appearing for the petitioner submits that the petitioner was appointed as a Conductor on contract basis on 01.04.1991, and his services were regularized w.e.f., 01.05.1992. While so, respondent No.3 issued a charge sheet dated 17.12.2014, to the petitioner alleging that he was unauthorisedly absent for 32 days.

Thereafter, an enquiry was conducted, and basing on the enquiry report dated 19.03.2015, the penalty of deferment of annual increments for a period of two years with cumulative effect was imposed on the petitioner PK,J wp_10002_2024 vide Officer Order No.E1/1/(123)/2014-SRCL dated 19.01.2016 issued by respondent No.3. Aggreived by the same, the petitioner preferred an appeal before respondent No.2 on 25.02.2016. However, the same is not yet disposed of by the respondents. Therefore, learned counsel for the petitioner prays this Court to direct respondent No.2 to consider and dispose of the appeal of the petitioner dated 25.02.2016, within a reasonable period of time.

4. Learned Standing Counsel for the respondents fairly submits that respondent No.2 will consider the appeal of the petitioner dated 25.02.2016, and pass appropriate orders in accordance with law.

5. Having regard to the submissions made by the learned counsel appearing for the respective parties, without going into merits of the case, the Writ Petition is disposed of with a direction to respondent No.2 to consider the appeal of the petitioner dated 25.02.2016 and pass appropriate orders thereon, strictly in accordance with law, within a period of four (04) weeks from the date of receipt of a copy of this order, and communicate a copy thereof to the petitioner.

Miscellaneous petitions, if any, pending in this writ petition, shall stand closed. No costs. ______________________ PULLA KARTHIK, J Date: 18.04.2024 Note: Furnish C.C. in one week. B/o.

GSP