The Andhra Pradesh High Court has rejected a petition filed by Deputy Director of Mines and Geology G. Papa Rao seeking elevation to the rank of joint director, ruling that promoting public servants facing grave corruption and embezzlement charges would erode institutional morale and normalise misconduct.
Dismissing the plea, Justice Nyapathy Vijay held that employees facing serious bribery allegations cannot be treated on par with unblemished colleagues or considered for career progression while criminal and disciplinary inquiries remain unresolved. The court underscored that an employee must possess an untainted record to claim advancement, noting that the government bears no legal obligation to reward personnel facing serious integrity concerns.
Court Rejects Arguments on Trial Delays
Rao is currently standing trial before a special Central Bureau of Investigation court in Vijayawada over his alleged involvement in an illegal limestone mining operation that cost the state exchequer more than Rs 124.46 crore.
His counsel, Kavitha Gottipati, argued before the High Court that despite occupying the second position on the departmental seniority roster, the Departmental Promotion Committee improperly deferred his elevation on March 5. The defence contended that prolonged delays in resolving criminal proceedings and an inactive departmental inquiry should not indefinitely bar his advancement.
Justice Vijay turned down that argument, observing that criminal trials inherently take time to conclude and that no extraordinary shortcut exists to accelerate judicial proceedings. The bench also affirmed that questions regarding the officer’s innocence belong before the trial court handling the criminal case rather than within a writ petition concerning administrative promotions.
Allegations of Extensive Illegal Excavation
The charges stem from Rao’s tenure in 2015 as the Assistant Director of Mines and Geology (Vigilance). State authorities alleged that he failed to take regulatory action against unlawful limestone quarrying across Kesanupalli, Nadikudi, and Konanki villages despite being aware of the activity, and subsequently submitted fraudulent inspection records.
Investigators calculated that approximately 21,15,825.14 metric tonnes of limestone were illegally excavated and transported from the region, inflicting widespread revenue losses on the state.
Investigation and Procedural History
Prompted by the scope of the alleged fraud, the Andhra Pradesh government transferred the investigation to the CBI in September 2019. The central probe agency subsequently submitted a charge sheet implicating Rao alongside 17 other individuals. After receiving the requisite prosecution sanction, the special CBI court in Vijayawada took cognisance of the matter in 2025.
Parallel disciplinary proceedings initiated by the department have remained stalled since September 2022, when Rao submitted a formal statement of defence denying all accusations.
Rao originally entered the Mines and Geology Department in 1992 as a technical assistant. Over the course of his service, he obtained sequential promotions as a royalty inspector, assistant geologist, assistant director, and deputy director before his bid for the joint directorship was halted.
