Ranga Reddy and Others vs State of Andhra Pradesh and Others

Special leave granted.

We are of the view that the Andhra Pradesh Administrative Tribunal ought not to have determined the question of seniority without the appellants in both the appeals being before the Tribunal since the determination of this question would directly affect the interest of the appellants. We would, therefore, allow the appeals set aside the order made by the Tribunal on 3rd September, 1984 and' the subsequent direction given by the High Court for its implementation and remand the matter to the Tribunal with a direction that the appellants shall be joined as party respondents to the Representation before the Tribunal and the Representation shall be heard and disposed of the tribunal after giving an opportunity of hearing to all the parties including the appellants in both the appeals

Since the order of the Tribunal as also the subsequent direction given by the High Court for its implementation are being set aside by us, any consequential action taken by the State Government will also have to be set aside but it will be open to the Tribunal, if so advised and if also such manner as it thinks fit.

Since the case is an old we would request the Tribunal to dispose it of at a very early date.

The appeals will stand disposed of in these terms. There will be no order as to costs.