Hyderabad, August 02: The Centre on Monday asked the Andhra Pradesh government to pass a fresh resolution in the Assembly to delete Clause (f) of para 14 of the 1975 Presidential Order to make Hyderabad a non-free zone for purposes of employment.
Home Minister P. Chidambaram told journalists here that the last resolution was passed by the Assembly in January 2010 and “it is now August 2011.” He said: “We want to be absolutely sure on consensus in the State Assembly.” (In Hyderabad Chief Minister Kirankumar Reddy said that it was not possible immediately to pass the resolution.)
He said the Cabinet Committee on Political Affairs had considered the question of deletion of para 4 (f) and it was decided to make a recommendation to the President after getting a fresh resolution from the Assembly.
As per the Andhra Pradesh Public Employment (Organisation of Local Cadres and Regulation of Direct Recruitment) Order, 1975, the State was divided into six zones for purposes of employment, and quota was applicable in these regions. Clause (f) pertained to Hyderabad. The issue of free zone of Hyderabad pertains only to the Police/Home department. The government issued orders, according to which, posts including constable, sub-inspector and inspector are defined as localised posts. The zone will be the local unit for the posts of inspector and sub-inspector and the district will be the local unit for the posts of head constable and constable.
As Hyderabad was treated as a free zone, people from all parts of the State would have equal rights in government jobs, postings and promotions particularly in the Police/Home department as clause 14 (f) of the Presidential Order, 1975 and quota were not applicable. When the State wanted to apply quota, the Supreme Court, quoting 14 (f), struck down that order.
Thereafter the Assembly in 2010 passed a resolution which stated: “This House resolves to request the Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India, to obtain the approval of the President to delete Clause (f) of para 14 of the Andhra Pradesh Public Employment (Organisation of Local Cadres and Regulation of Direct Recruitment) Order, 1975.” The resolution was sent to the Centre, requesting it to retain Hyderabad as Zone VI and not as a “free zone,” for purposes of recruitment in the Police department. Since for more than six months there was no response from the Centre and following a widespread agitation on the Telangana issue, the then Chief Minister, K. Rosaiah, sent a letter through the Chief Secretary requesting the Centre to take up the issue with the President to delete 14 (f) so that all regions would have equal opportunity in employment.
–Agencies