Public service exam: Telangana has a new test for ‘non-locals’

Hyderabad: The one-time registration system facility provided by the Telangana State Public Service Commission for job aspirants on its website is sending jitters among students who were born in Andhra Pradesh but became locals of Telangana as per Article 371 (D). All applicants have to fill the column on place of birth, district and state in the online form. The options list 10 Telangana districts, and the 11th is “Other than Telangana State”.

This is giving an impression that those who were not born in these 10 districts would be treated as “non-locals” as they invariably need to select the “Other than Telangana State” option. There are lakhs of students who were born in Andhra Pradesh but became “locals” of Telangana by virtue of their five years of study or seven years of stay in Telangana as per Article 371 (D).

Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao's repeated statements that the delay in taking up recruitment drives was because of the government’s exercise to ensure jobs only for Telangana students, has been creating further apprehensions. However, academics say any violation of the Presidential Order (Article 371 D) on local status would land the Telangana government in legal trouble if anyone challenges the “place of birth” provision in courts.

TSPSC chairman Ganta Chakrapani was not available for comment on this issue. A senior academic involved with training students for State PSC and UPSC exams for decades, said, “Nowhere in the country are there instances of any PSC asking candidates to give details of their place of birth.” Only local and non-local status will be asked. Even in the UPSC, there is no such provision, he said.

“In the UPSC Civils main exam, they ask for place of birth but it is only for interview purposes where questions related to their native place, district and state would be asked,” he said. TSPSC officials said the column seeking details on nativity –four years of study or seven years stay – has also been provided, wherein such students can claim nativity of TS.

But students question if that is so, why is “place of birth” being asked, which will give scope for the government to easily identify those students who were not born in TS, besides giving scope for doubts like showing discrimination in selection during written exam or interviews.