Date:27/11/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/11/27/stories/2008112752370400.htm

Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad

State grilled over status of non-local staff

Confusion over pre-1975 appointments; Chief Secretary caught off-guard

Harish Rao questions why Mulki rule was not adhered to in the appointments
18,783 employees found to be appointed in violation of Presidential Orders

– Photo: G. Krishnaswamy

Crucial deliberations: An all-party meeting in progress in Hyderabad on Wednesday.

HYDERABAD: Members of the Opposition parties grilled the government over the “lapses” in the information pertaining to non-local employees working in different departments in violation of GO 610.

The officials led by Chief Secretary P. Ramakanth Reddy were reportedly caught off-guard during a meeting of the House Committee on GO 610 held here on Wednesday when Telangana Rashtra Samiti MLA T. Harish Rao sought information about the non-locals appointed before 1975.

Though the officials were learnt to have explained that such appointments were not in the purview of the Presidential Orders, Mr. Harish wanted to know why the Mulki rule, in vogue then, was not followed in their appointments.

The government is learnt to have circulated a note clarifying the position about the information pertaining to 4.08 lakh employees out of the 5.1 lakh staff.

The Opposition members, however, insisted that the government clarify about the status of the remaining about one lakh employees whose appointments were governed by the Presidential Orders.

They criticised the government for not initiating action against officials who did not cooperate with the House Committee in furnishing information about non-locals in their respective departments.

Mr. Harish and CPI floor leader Chada Venkat Reddy reportedly objected to the way non-locals who volunteered to go back to their respective zones were not allowed to do so.

“Errant” officials

House Committee chairman N. Uttam Kumar Reddy told reporters later that the Chief Secretary had assured that he would initiate action against the “errant” officials who did not furnish the information sought by the panel. Identification of non-locals was delayed because of the “negligence” of the previous governments in entering the status of staff in their service records.

So far, 18,783 employees were found to be appointed in violation of the Presidential Orders and repatriation orders were served on 13,866. Though a section of the employees approached the High Court and Administrative Tribunal, the government commenced recruitment of locals for the posts.