HON’BLE SRI JUSTICE NAGESH BHEEMAPAKA WRIT PETITION No. 728 OF 2017

O R D E R:

This Writ Petition is filed by petitioners, who are all retired employees, questioning the action of respondents in not paying them arrears of salary and benefits consequent to their alleged entitlement of promotion as Agricultural Extension Officers Grade-I with effect from 17.04.1997. A consequent direction is sought to respondents to pay them arrears from 17.04.1997 till their respective retirement in terms of G.O.Ms.No.167, Agriculture & Cooperation (V2) Department, dated 17.04.1987 and other relevant provisions.

2. Petitioners’ case is that, they joined service as Agriculture Extension Officers and were later deputed to the Horticulture Department, and retired from service as Grade-I Extension Officers. It is stated, they are entitled for promotion to the cadre of A.E.O. Grade-I from 17.04.1997, but that entitlement has not been implemented. It is further stated that though petitioners were parties to O.A.No.6118 of 2011 and orders were passed therein, and though Commissioner also issued specific directions, the Joint Director, Agriculture, Khammam violated those directions. According to petitioners,