Vijayawada: The Andhra Pradesh High Court is scheduled to resume hearings on November 13, 2026, in a group of long-pending contempt proceedings involving serving and retired senior IAS officers and other senior government officials.
The cases arise from allegations by government employee associations, retired personnel and individual employees that authorities failed to implement judicial directions issued in several service-related disputes.
The proceedings were listed for further hearing on November 13 after a Division Bench comprising Justice Ravi Nath Tilhari and Justice Alapati Giridhar advanced the matter during its October 30 hearing.
Which Contempt Cases Are Involved?
The batch includes several contempt petitions filed between 2019 and 2022. The case numbers mentioned in the proceedings include:
- Contempt Case No. 4593 of 2022
- Contempt Case No. 189 of 2019
- Contempt Case No. 750 of 2019
- Contempt Case No. 861 of 2019
- Contempt Case No. 908 of 2019
- Contempt Case No. 68 of 2020
The High Court’s case records identify M. Pratap Reddy versus Dr. Sameer Sharma (IAS: 1985: AP), as the principal matter associated with several of these connected proceedings.
The petitions have been brought by different groups of government employees and officials, including Secretariat personnel, Roads and Buildings Department engineers, Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) employees and personnel associated with the police housing corporation.
What Are the Allegations Against the Officials?
The petitioners have alleged deliberate and wilful disobedience of earlier High Court judgments and directions.
Some of the underlying judicial orders date back to December 2018, including decisions in W.P. Nos. 43051 of 2016 and 4415 of 2016, along with subsequent writ appeals.
The disputes primarily concern government employees’ service conditions and the implementation of court-mandated benefits.
The key issues include:
- Supernumerary posts: Creation and placement of additional posts to accommodate employees in accordance with judicial directions.
- Inter-State seniority: Application and implementation of seniority rules affecting government personnel following administrative reorganisation.
- Service benefits: Implementation of benefits and entitlements for State government employees and TTD personnel.
- Compliance with court orders: Alleged failure of the concerned authorities to give effect to earlier judgments despite repeated directions.
Government Seeks More Time to Implement Directions
During earlier hearings, the Advocate General, representing the State authorities, informed the court that steps were being taken to comply with its directions.
However, the government also pointed to administrative complications, including the assessment of vacancies, creation of supernumerary posts and resolution of inter-State seniority issues.
These difficulties were cited while seeking additional time to complete the required action.
The petitioners, meanwhile, maintained that the principal directions had still not been implemented despite earlier assurances and adjournments.
What Did the High Court Direct on October 30?
During the October 30 hearing, the High Court issued further directions concerning the respondents’ participation in the proceedings.
According to the reported order:
- Newly impleaded respondents were granted two weeks to file their counter affidavits.
- Respondents who had already submitted their counter affidavits were directed to appear physically before the court on the next hearing date.
- Earlier proceedings had included directions for personal appearance and issuance of Form-I notices to the respondents.
The matter is now scheduled to be taken up on November 13, when the court is expected to consider the responses and further progress in the contempt proceedings.
The upcoming hearing will be significant in determining the next course of action in the long-running disputes over implementation of the High Court’s service-related orders.
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