Section 2(a) in The Andhra Pradesh Civil Services (Classification, Control and Appeal) Rules, 1991
(a)'appointing authority in relation to a Government servant' means-(i)the authority which actually made the temporary or officiating or substantive appointment as the case may be, of the Government Servant to the post held by him at the time of initiation of disciplinary proceedings; or(ii)the authority which is, under the rules regulating the recruitment to the post which the Government servant for the time being holds, competent to make an appointment, whichever authority is higher;
