ORDER:

Heard Sri K Buchi Babu, learned counsel for the petitioners, V. Jayasree, learned Assistant Government Pleader for Municipal Administration and Urban Development appearing for the respondent No.1, Sri Krishna Swamy learned Assistant Government Pleader for Labour appearing for respondent Nos.2 and 3, Sri A. Veeresh, learned Standing Counsel for HMWSSB appearing for Respondent No.4.

2. Having regard to the urgency pleaded by the petitioners and as the election is scheduled to be held on 06.06.2026, this Court, with the consent of the learned counsel appearing on either side, has taken up the matter for final disposal at the stage of admission.

I. FACTS OF THE CASE:

3. The present Writ Petition is filed by the President and General Secretary of Hyderabad Water Works & Sewerage Kamgar a registered Trade Union (for short ‘the Union’), seeking a Writ of Mandamus declaring the action of Respondent No.3 in not allotting the election symbol “Bow & Arrow” for the ensuing secret ballot election to determine the majority trade union in the Hyderabad Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board (HMWSSB), scheduled to be held on 06.06.2026, as illegal, arbitrary and violative of Articles 14 and 19(1)(c) of the Constitution of India, and consequently to direct allotment of the said symbol.

4. The case of the petitioners is that the Union represented by them had participated in earlier trade union elections under the symbol “Bow & Arrow” and that the said symbol had, over a period of time, acquired an identity amongst the employees of HMWSSB. According to the petitioners, after initiation of the election process and submission of their symbol preference, they were informed that the symbol “Bow & Arrow” would not be allotted for the ensuing election. Aggrieved thereby, they have approached this Court seeking intervention in the matter.

II. SUBMISSIONS OF THE PARTIES:

A. Submissions on behalf of the Petitioners:

5. Learned counsel for the petitioners submits that the Union represented by the petitioners has been contesting elections for several years under the symbol “Bow & Arrow” and that the symbol has acquired a distinct association with the Union amongst the employees. It is contended that the impugned action in changing the symbol at the last stage of the election process, without prior notice and without assigning reasons, is arbitrary, unreasonable and contrary to the principles of natural justice.

6. It is the specific contention of the learned counsel for the petitioners that though a resolution was passed in the meeting held on 29.05.2026 before the Returning Officer and Joint Commissioner of Labour, Hyderabad (Twin Cities) in connection with verification/Secret Ballot election to determine majority union under code of discipline in HMWSSB to follow the practices, which according to the learned counsel also to assign a election symbol in favour of the Union to which the petitioners are President and Secretary respectively, the Respondent No.3 – Joint Commissioner of Labour has not followed the said practices of allotting the simple of “Bow & Arrow” and that a different symbol has been allotted, which is causing prejudice to the petitioners. The learned counsel for the petitioners further stated that in fact, the petitioners made representation on 22.05.2026 itself requesting the respondent to allot “Bow & Arrow” symbol in favour of the petitioners in the ensuing elections and that the same was neither considered or nor a reasoned order has been passed thereon. It is also further brought to the notice of this court that even after passing of the said resolution on 29.05.2026, the petitioners raised objections by submitting representation on 29.05.2026 with regard to non - allotment of “Bow & Arrow” symbol. Despite the same, the respondent No.3 proceeded with the allotting a different symbol other than “Bow & Arrow” symbol.

7. Learned counsel further contends that the abrupt denial of the symbol is likely to create confusion amon