K VISHNUMURTHY Vs. GOVERNMENT OF A P

JUDGEMENT

(1.) Interpretation of a definition clause in the Andhra Pradesh Village Administrative Officers' Service Rules, 1990 (hereinafter referred to as 'the said Rules' for the sake of brevity) falls for consideration in this writ petition.

(2.) G.O. Ms. No.943, Revenue (V.O.), dated 7.11.1990 prescribing the said Rules was issued by the Government of Andhra Pradesh in exercise of its powers conferred by the proviso to Article 309 of the Constitution of India. The said Rules thus have statutory force. By reason of Rule 3 of the said Rules a Village Administrative Officer may be appointed for every village or for a group of villages as the Government or the Commissioner of Land Revenue may from time to time consider necessary.

(3.) The petitioner's father was a Patel, which would mean a Patel appointed under the Andhra Pradesh (Telangana Area) Village Officers Service Rules, 1978. The petitioner's father was said to have acted as Mali Patel and Police Patel of Ootpally, Gandiguda Villages from 31.5.1961 to 6.1.1984. The petitioner allegedly assisted his father in discharge of his official duties and in support of the said contention two sheets have been produced before us to show that he had prepared some 'taktas', wherein he has written the details of births and deaths in respect of 28 persons.