Full Judgment
Goda Raghuram, J.
1. The petitioners have filed this writ petition seeking a declaration that they are entitled for regular absorption in regular scale of pay based on the dates of their first appointment with effect from the date on which their immediate juniors were absorbed in the said posts with all consequential and incidental benefits. This relief is claimed on the following averments:
(a) that the petitioners have passed S.S.C. in 1984 and possess the qualification of I.T.I. (Fitter) acquired in the year 1987 and that they have registered their names in the Employment Exchange;
(b) that by proceedings dt. 8-11-1991 of the Divisional Manager, APSRTC, Nalgonda, the petitioners were engaged on daily wage basis as casual cleaners and that they have been continuing as such since then and that they are fully eligible and qualified for absorption as cleaners on regular basis;
(c) that persons who were appointed subsequent to the petitioners as cleaners on daily wage basis i.e., appointed on 21-11-1991 and 22-11-1991, have been appointed as cleaners under Regulation 17 of the APSRTC Employees (Recruitment) Regulation, 1960, in regular pay scale of Rs. 875-1560 w.e.f. 10-10-1992, 23-6-1993 and 30-3-1993 respectively; that this treatment given to others who were juniors to the petitioners in the general hierarchy, is arbitrary and discriminatory; and
(d) that the petitioners have been making representations to the respondents including the representations dt. 25-5-1989 and 25-5-1990, but without any response.
2. The respondent-Corporation filed a counter affidavit stating that the petitioners have not been selected by the Departmental Selection Committee, but were appointed pursuant to instructions of the Head Office, consequent on which they were engaged as casual cleaners w.e.f. 13-11-1991. It is also stated that prior to the petitioners' engagement as such a panel of 80 casual cleaners was prepared by the Departmental Selection Committee on 20-9-1991 and the candidates so selected were engaged on casual basis and that since these candidates had been temporarily appointed after process of recruitment they have been absorbed on regular basis depending on the availability of vacancies and following the rule of reservation and that the petitioners also will be considered for absorption as and when vacancies arise.
3. The petitioners have claimed parity of treatment with certain persons, who, they allege, are juniors to them and have assailed the proceedings issued in their favour appointing them as regular cleaners superseding the claims of the petitioners, but no formal challenge has been made by the petitioners against any specific orders issued in favour of such persons. The averments in the counter affidavit clearly advert to the existence of relevant criteria distinguishing the case of the petitioners from that of the others; who were appointed as casual cleaners pursuant to the process of selection by the departmental selection committee. In the circumstances there are no merits in the writ petition warranting grant of relief as prayed for. The writ petition accordingly fails and is dismissed. No costs.