C. Srinu v. The State Of Andhra Pradesh,

HON'BLE SRI JUSTI CE A. RAMALI NGESWARA RAO Writ Petition No. 25307 of 2017 Order:

Heard learned counsel for the petitioner and learned Government Pleader for the respondents.

The petitioner states that he is an agriculturist having agricultural lands in Survey No.306/2 of Kunavaram village, Sitanagaram Mandal, East Godavari district. His lands fall within the irrigation circle of Dowleswaram, which had offices of Godavari Eastern Division, Godavari Central Division, Godavari Western Division and Eluru Irrigation Division, Peddapuram. Godavari Central Division, Dowleswaram consists of three

(3) sub-divisions viz., Rajahmundry, Amalapuram and P. Gannavaram. There are 82 minor irrigation tanks with total Ayacut of 18,824.24 Acres apart from 413 Panchayat Raj tanks and railway affecting tanks with total Ayacut of 11,125.63 Acres. They are under the control of Godavari Central Division Office. Similarly, there are other works and schemes under the control of Godavari Central Division.

Now, when G.O.Ms.No.216 dated 04.07.1988 was issued reorganizing the irrigation offices, an amendment was proposed by the Superintending Engineer, Irrigation Circle, Dowleswaram.

When the Engineer-in-Chief (Administration), Water Resources Department, Vijayawada, issued a memo on 21.04.2017 rejecting the proposed amendment of the Superintending Engineer and seeking report of compliance by which the headquarters of Godavari Central Division would be shifted from Dowleswaram to Amalapuram, the present Writ Petition is filed. Learned counsel for the petitioner submits that no action was taken since 1988 for shifting of the headquarters consequent to the

reorganization of existing drainage and irrigation divisions, the present order is arbitrary.

It is evident from the impugned memo dated 21.04.2017 that the Government thought of reorganizing the existing drainage and irrigation divisions way back in 1988 and the same is sought to be implemented by rejecting the request of the Superintending Engineer, Irrigation Circle, Dowleswaram. The location of headquarters consequent to the reorganization is a matter relating to the administration of the Government and the jurisdiction of this Court to interfere in such matters is not warranted. In the circumstances, this Court sees no ground to interfere with the same.

The Writ Petition is, accordingly, dismissed. There shall be no order as to costs.

As a sequel thereto, the miscellaneous petitions pending in this Writ Petition, if any, shall stand closed.

____________________________ A. RAMALI NGESWARA RAO, J Date: 31.07.2017 Nsr