Thaindian News

Hyderabad, June 27 (IANS) Ignoring objections from Telangana groups, the Andhra Pradesh government Monday made it clear that it would go ahead with the recruitment of sub-inspectors of police without deleting a clause that treats Hyderabad as a free zone and allows people from other regions of the state to appear in the test.

Home Minister Sabita Indra Reddy told reporters that the written test for recruitment of SIs would be held as scheduled Aug 13 and 14.

She claimed that no injustice would be done to Telangana region by conducting the test without deletion of Clause 14F from the Presidential Order on the zonal system.

The government Saturday issued notification to conduct the test for recruitment of 1,293 SIs. The home minister said 643 posts in zone fourth and fifth (in Telangana region) would be filled with local candidates.

Telangana Rashtra Samiti, Telangana Joint Action Committee and other groups fighting for separate statehood to the region have already threatened to disrupt the test, if held without amending the Presidential Order of 1975.

The Clause 14F treats Hyderabad a free zone, which means candidates from other regions of the state can be recruited in the police department. Telangana groups want the clause to be deleted to make Hyderabad a part of the fourth zone.

Telangana leaders of the ruling Congress party and main opposition Telugu Desam Party (TDP) are also opposed to the test without deleting Clause 14F.

Since the issue is under consideration of the centre, the Telangana groups want the state government not to conduct the test.

The test was earlier scheduled in December last year but violent protests by Telangana groups had forced the state government to postpone it.