Staff division sparks row between Telangana, Andhra Pradesh employees

Hyderabad: Many Class IV employees like drivers, attendants etc, who are natives of Telangana, have been allotted to AP, while higher-level employees like directors, deputy directors, commissioners etc. who are natives of AP, have been allotted to TS in the ongoing division of state-cadre by the Kamalnathan Committee.

This is triggering severe protests from TS employees. TS staff have complained that these discrepancies are because of the controversial 18(F) rule issued by the Committee, which states: “In the event of more posts than the ‘local candidate’ in a cadre in one state, those from other states would be appointed.”

They have demanded that AP natives shouldn’t be given postings in TS as it will deprive TS natives of higher-level jobs, especially students who have been waiting for these job notifications for a year.

In Telangana, there is a surplus of Class IV employees, who need to be allotted to AP as per the 18(F) rule. Similarly, AP has a surplus higher-level staff, who need to be allotted to TS.

In the recruitment exams conducted by APPSC in undivided state, majority of the jobs were secured by AP candidates.

TS employees have been protesting against the 18(F) rule, which was issued in August last year. But the government had pacified them stating that it would create super-numery posts to accommodate excess TS staff who were allotted to AP and convince the AP government to also create super-numery posts to accommodate their excess staff in AP itself instead of sending them to TS.

However, there is no word from TS and AP on super-numery posts so far even after the Committee has completed bifurcation in 90 departments.

“AP employees continue to occupy higher posts. This will not only affect TS staff but also students,” said A. Padma Chary, TS Employees Association leader.