Telangana staff asked not to co-operate with Andhra Pradesh

Hyderabad: Following the directive of Telangana chief secretary Rajiv Sharma that all institutions in Hyderabad listed in the Xth Schedule of AP Reorganisation Act belonged to Telangana, officers have started taking measures to implement the view of the government in letter and spirit.

 

Director general of the Centre for Good Governance, Mr Shiv Shankar, who has been appointed by the Telangana government, has reportedly issued a circular restraining the staff not to cooperate or share any information on any matter (with AP).

 

The controversial circular, issued at a time when the President of India is in the city, has raised many eyebrows and put the staff in a troublesome spot. Among other things, the circular has asked the staff to collect service charges from others (read AP staff) for all services that are extended. 

 

“It has come to my notice that many staff members have been visiting the AP Secretariat for some work or the other without taking the permission of higher officials. It has also been noticed that some staff have been going outside the state or other cities on official work without taking the approval of the DG. This is henceforth stopped and everyone should get permission beforehand and the concerned departmental head is accountable for his visit. Due charges should be levied for the services,” the circular said. 

 

This has put the staff in a quandary, particularly those from AP who will find it tough to continue to work, according to sources. M. K. Meena, the in-charge DG from AP, is at a loss regarding what to do and he has reportedly brought the issue to the notice of AP chief secretary I. Y. R. Krishna Rao, the sources said.

 

The AP government has already stated that the TS government’s attitude is outrageous and against the spirit of the APRA. It has said that it might seek legal recourse if the Governor or the Centre fail to break the ice.

 

The Governor will be apprised of the situation in the wake of circular, AP officials said. CGG, one of the 107 institutions of the Xth Schedule, has been extending services to both governments till now; its key sphere of work is implementation of IT at all levels in governance. 

 

Another issue that has rocked the administrations of both the states is the payment of Income Tax dues by the AP Beverages Corporation. The IT department has taken the dues of Rs 1,274 crore from the Telangana account. TS officials have objected to this, stating that it is against the ruling of the High Court. AP is demanding that the dues should be divided in the ratio as per the Act.