AP Government Moves Bill Repealing 2 Kids’ Norm

Vijayawada: Andhra Pradesh government led by Chief Minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu has introduced three important bills in the State Legislative Assembly aimed at strengthening local governance and addressing the needs of government employees.

Andhra Pradesh Panchayat Raj Bill – 2024 and AP Municipal Bill – 2024 were moved by municipal administration and urban development minister Ponguru Narayana. Finance Minister Payyavula Keshav introduced the Andhra Pradesh Government Employees Bill – 2014.

Narayana recalled that the AP government had enacted a law disqualifying persons with more than two children from contesting local body elections. He pointed out that since then, total fertility rate (TFR) in Andhra Pradesh has declined from 2.6 in 2001 to around 1.5 in recent years, which is below the replacement level of 2.1.

The minister said keeping this in view, the government has reviewed the population policy and is amending the Andhra Pradesh Panchayat Raj Act, 1994, enabling people with more than two children to contest elections for panchayat raj institutions, namely gram panchayats, mandal praja parishads and zilla praja parishads.

Finance minister Keshav said the Andhra Pradesh Government Employees Bill – 2014 is to amend the Andhra Pradesh Public Employment (Regulation of Age of Superannuation) Аct, 1984. He pointed out that judicial officers (JOs) of the state have submitted representations requesting the Andhra Pradesh High Court to extend the benefit of enhanced age of superannuation to also the judicial officers working in AP.

Following this, the government is moving the bill to enhance the age of superannuation of judicial officers from 60 years to 61 years with effect from November 1, 2024.

Keshav stated, “The total number of judicial officers currently serving in Andhra Pradesh is 552. The number of officers who will retire in the current and next financial years (from November 2024 to March 2026) is four and nine respectively. These 13 judicial officers will be getting the immediate benefit of enhancing the age of superannuation from 60 years to 61 years. The additional financial implication due to this proposal is ₹5.70 crore till March 2026,” the finance minister added.