THE HONOURABLE SRI JUSTICE NAGESH BHEEMAPAKA WRIT PETITION No.11631 of 2025

ORDER:

This Writ Petition is filed by the petitioners seeking the following relief:

“…to issue a Writ or order or direction, more particularly a Writ of Mandamus by declaring that the Petitioners are entitled to have their claims considered and be promoted as Agricultural Officers basing on the placements assigned to them in the final seniority lists of Agricultural Extension Officers Grade-I and II duly preparing year wise panels in accordance with the provisions of Rule 6 of T S State and Subordinate Service Rules 1996 and on the analogy of Order issued in W.P. No.4549 of 2024 dated 08.04.2024 in so far as promotion is concerned with benefits incidental thereto duly holding the action of the Respondents in not preparing year wise panels as envisaged in Rule 6 of the aforementioned Rules and thereby denying promotions as Agricultural Officers to the Petitioners without any legal or valid justification as being arbitrary illegal contrary to provisions of Rule 6 and the law laid down in this regard by this Honble Court and Honble Supreme Court of India and in violation of Articles 14 and

16 of Constitution of India and pass such other order etc…”

2. Heard Mr. V.Ravichandran, learned counsel appearing for the petitioners and learned Government Pleader for Agriculture appearing for respondent Nos.1 and 2. Perused the material available on record.

3. The present writ petition has been filed by the petitioners seeking to declare the action of the respondents in not promoting as illegal and arbitrary.

4. Learned counsel for the petitioners submits that petitioner Nos.1 and 2 were initially appointed as Agriculture Extension Officer Grade-II in the year 2009. Subsequently, they were promoted to the post of Agriculture Extension Officer Grade-I in the year 2018 and 2019, respectively. Petitioners Nos.3 and 4 are working as Agriculture Extension Officer Grade-II. The petitioners are eligible and qualified to be considered for promotion to the post of Agricultural Officers in the existing 48 vacancies in Multi-Zones-I and II. The grievance of the petitioners is that the respondents have failed to finalize the seniority list and effect promotions for the reasons that appear to be extraneous. It is further submitted that the petitioners allege that the delay in finalizing the seniority list and promoting Agriculture Extension Officers Grade-I and II is intended to benefit direct recruits, which would ultimately place the petitioners in a disadvantageous position.

5. Learned counsel for the petitioners further submits that the petitioners rely on the order passed by this Court in W.P. No.4549 of 2024, wherein this Court directed the respondents to finalize the seniority list and consider the case of the petitioners therein for with their eligibility and availability of vacancies and the said exercise shall be completed within period of three (03) months from the date of receipt of a copy of this order. In view of the aforesaid decision, the petitioners herein contend that they are similarly situated and thus seek the same relief. Therefore, prays that this Court may be pleased to direct the respondents to finalize the seniority lists and consider the promotions of the petitioners to the post of Agricultural Officers in accordance with the provisions of Rule 6 of the Telangana State and Subordinate Services Rules, 1996.

Hence, the present writ petition.

6. Having considered the facts and circumstances of the case, and without going into merits of the case, the respondent authorities are hereby directed to finalize the seniority list and consider the cases of the petitioners for promotion to the post of Agriculture Officers, in accordance with law based on their eligibility and availability of vacancies. The said exercise shall be completed within a period of three (03) months from the date of receipt of a copy of this order.

7. With the above direction, the Writ Petition is