BC, OC employees of A.P. Secretariat demand fair deal in promotions in line with High Court ruling

Members of Andhra Pradesh Secretariat BC and OC Employees Association have urged the government to address the “injustice meted out to them in promotions due to the implementation of reservations.”

The members met Chief Secretary K. Vijayanand on Friday evening after the association’s general body meeting and submitted a representation to this effect.

Citing the relentless fight of the All-India Equality Forum, under the leadership of M. Nagaraju, across the country against the injustice to BC, OC and Minority employees due to the implementation of reservations in promotions, they said the association had also been actively raising the issue.

They drew the Chief Secretary’s attention to the Andhra Pradesh High Court order given in 2018 asking the government to review the injustice in promotions within the A.P. Secretariat, which was not implemented and that a contempt of court case was currently underway regarding the issue.

The association members said though the High Court had issued directions application to both the Telugu States of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, the latter had resolved the issue while the former had not acted on it.

They said to review promotions given since 2014, the Andhra Pradesh government appointed two committees — an Advisory Committee and an Officers Committee. Both the panels, through their reports which was backed by statistics, confirmed that significant injustice was done to BC, OC and Minority employees in promotions.

The association members said the High Court had directed the Chief Secretary to appear in person, but the government formed another committee of Group of Ministers (GoM) and sought an additional six-month extension from the court, which clearly reflected its attempt to delay the process. Pointing to the fact that more than 80 % of the A.P. Secretariat workforce represented BC, OC and Minority segments and that they were eligible for promotions based on merit, they said the government’s delaying tactics was causing frustration among the employees.

The association members demanded that the government review all promotions given so far in line with the High Court orders and ensure justice to the BC, OC and Minority employees who have suffered severe injustice before the simmering discontent among the employees turned into a full-blown agitation.