ABV reinstated just a few hours before his retirement

Senior IPS officer and former intelligence chief of Andhra Pradesh, AB Venkateswara Rao, was reinstated in service on Friday, just hours before his scheduled retirement. Chief Secretary Dr KS Jawahar Reddy issued orders for his reinstatement, appointing him as the Director General of Police in the Department of Printing and Stationery.
AB Venkateshwara Rao, commonly referred to as ABV was initially suspended on February 8, 2020, pending disciplinary proceedings.
He challenged the suspension in the High Court, which quashed the order on May 5, 2020. Although the Supreme Court initially stayed the High Court’s decision, it ultimately dismissed the State government’s Special Leave Petition (SLP) on April 22, 2022, due to the completion of two years of suspension, and directed ABV’s reinstatement. ABV was reinstated and posted as the Commissioner of Printing, Stationery, and Stores Purchase on June 14, 2022, assuming charge on June 17.
However, he was suspended again on June 28, 2022, leading him to challenge this decision in the Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT). On May 8, 2024, the CAT ordered his reinstatement.
“Thus, he was placed under suspension for nearly five years and is retiring from service on attaining the age of superannuation on May 31, 2024,” the high court noted.
Considering ABV’s lengthy service and imminent retirement, the High Court observed that any stay on the CAT’s order would cause him significant hardship.
“However, the reinstatement, if any, will not preclude the petitioner from proceeding with criminal action. Hence, we are of the view that appropriate orders will be passed in the interlocutory application after the filing of the counter affidavit by ABV,” the High Court stated.
The Chief Secretary clarified that AB Venkateshwara Rao’s reinstatement is contingent upon the resolution of any pending criminal cases against him.
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