The Union Home Ministry has directed the Governments of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh to settle discrepancies in the seniority list of inspector of police (civil) at the earliest in consultation with the heads of departments of the two States.
The Union Ministry wanted the two States to settle the seniority dispute in respect of feeder grade and initiate the allocation of this category of officers as decided by the sub-committee constituted in this regard. The Union Home Ministry’s Under Secretary R. Venkatesan addressed a letter to this effect to the State Reorganisation wings of the two States.
The development assumes significance as it upholds the contention of Telangana that the revised seniority lists of Home Department employees, specifically inspectors (civil), DSPs (civil), additional SPs (civil) and SP (non-cadre) were against the agreed principles. The State, in a letter addressed to the Union Ministry, complained about the revised seniority lists published by the AP government recently. The list of various categories of employees were announced in “utter disregard” to the procedures agreed by the two States as also the provisions specifically mentioned in the Rule 34 of AP Subordinate Service Rules, 1996. Though it was agreed that the procedure for preparing seniority list in Telangana and apportionment of deputation posts was to be adopted for the sake of uniformity between the two States, it was surprising that the orders issued by the neighbouring State in finalising seniority were not in accordance with the principles, the complaint said.
Responding to the complaint, the Union Ministry said, in its letter, that the advisory committee had already approved re-initiation of allocation process based on revised seniority lists through a note circulated in December last year and hence, the dispute should be settled accordingly. The two States should also make efforts to ensure disposal of the fresh court cases filed in the matter and submit a status report to the Union Ministry on the action taken in the issue.
