Date:14/07/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/07/14/stories/2007071461231200.htm

Andhra Pradesh

Government jobs for 10,000 in six months in Andhra Pradesh

Special Correspondent

Five-year jail-term likely for rash driving

HYDERABAD: The Cabinet had decided to fill 10,000 vacant posts in various cadres up to Group I Services in the Government over the next six months through the Andhra Pradesh Public Service Commission.

At a meeting of the Cabinet here on Friday, Chief Minister Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy asked Chief Secretary J. Harinarayana to initiate steps to fill these posts through the APPSC in tune with the ambitious target set by the State Government to create 10 lakh jobs in the next three years.

Instruction to officials

He instructed officials that all these posts should be filled in six months at any cost unless the Commission required more time.

After officials briefed him about the progress in repatriation of non-local Government staff in accordance with GO 610, Dr. Rajasekhara Reddy wanted them to serve the transfer orders on the rest of the identified staff and complete the whole process by July-end.

Road accidents

The Cabinet also took a serious note of the ever-increasing road accidents and resolved to amend Section 304 (A) of the IPC.

Accordingly, the punishment for rash and negligent driving would be made more stringent but the offence will be bailable as desired by the Centre.

The amendment, likely to be introduced in the coming Assembly session, would increase the jail-term for rash and negligent driving from two to five years.

In case of death caused by such driving, the imprisonment would be increased to seven years with fine up to Rs 5,000.

A proposal to create separate urban mandals to avoid confusion caused by the existence of rural mandals in cities, was approved.

Amendment to VAT Act

It was resolved to amend the VAT Act so that inter-State vehicles entering the State with goods would not claim refund of the tax paid taking the advantage of a lapse in it.

Aid for varsity

The Andhra Pradesh Cabinet also cleared the proposal to allot Rs. 13 crore to the Horticultural University established newly at Venkataramannagudem in West Godavari district out of the budget of Acharya N. Ranga Agriculture University.