Centre yet to decide on making Hyderabad a non-free zone

Assembly's request made after Telangana stir is being processed

The Centre is yet to take a final decision on the resolution the Andhra Pradesh Assembly passed in March 2010 to expedite permission from President Pratibha Patil to delete Clause (f) of Para-14 of the 1975 Presidential Order to make Hyderabad a non-free zone for employment in the Police Department.

Well-placed sources in the Union Home Ministry told The Hindu that the Assembly's request was still under examination.

“It is still pending in the Ministry. The request is under examination and it is being processed.”

The matter would finally be placed for consideration of the Union Cabinet, which would take a decision, they said. Under the Andhra Pradesh Public Employment (Organisation of Local Cadres and Regulation of Direct Recruitment) Order, 1975, the State was divided into six zones for employment, and quota was applicable in these regions. Clause (f) pertains to Hyderabad.

The government issued orders, under which posts, including those of constable, Sub-Inspector and Inspector of police are defined as localised posts. The zone will be a local unit for Inspector and Sub-Inspector of police, and the district will be a local unit for head constable and police constable.

Since Hyderabad was treated as a free zone, people from all parts of the State would have equal rights in government jobs, postings and promotions, especially in the Police and Home Departments, as per clause 14(f), of the Presidential Order, 1975, and quota was not applicable. When the State wanted to apply quota, the Supreme Court, citing Clause 14 (f), struck down that order.

Thereafter, the Assembly passed a resolution in March 2010.

It said: “This House resolves to request the Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India, to obtain the approval of the President of India 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 with a request that Hyderabad be retained as Zone VI and not as a “free zone” for recruitment in the Police Department. Since there was no response from the Centre for more than six months and after the widespread agitation over the Telangana issue, the then Chief Minister, K. Rosaiah, sent a letter through the Chief Secretary, requesting the Centre to take up the matter with the President to delete Clause 14 (f).