The dispute over discrepancies in the seniority lists of employees of the cadre of inspectors of police (civil), DSPs, additional SPs and non-cadre SPs between Telangana and Andhra Pradesh appears to be heading for a resolution.

The two States have agreed to constitute a joint committee with senior officials of the respective Home departments to amicably resolve the issue.

The decision had been taken at a meeting of the directors general of police convened by Governor E.S.L. Narasimhan on April 29 following the May 3 deadline set by the Department of Personnel and Training of the Central Government for submitting the status report.

“It has been decided to convene a joint committee of senior officials of Home departments of the two States to amicably resolve the seniority dispute in respect of feeder grade – inspector of police to DSP, additional SP and SP (non-cadre),” the State Reorganisation wing of Andhra Pradesh said.

Responding to the deadline set by the DOPT, the A.P. Government wrote a letter to the under secretary of the DOPT on May 2 claiming that the former would be posted about the information as and when the seniority dispute is settled by the joint committee. The letter comes in the light of the communication addressed to the two States, A.P. in particular, about the non-compliance of the neighbouring State to the agreed procedures in the preparation of the seniority lists.

‘Utter disregard’

The Telangana government, which raised the objection, said the list of various categories of the employees submitted by A.P. exposed the “utter disregard” in which it had been prepared in violation of the procedures agreed as also the provisions specifically mentioned in the Rule 34 of AP Subordinate Service Rules, 1996.

The Centre upheld the contention of Telangana claiming that the advisory panel had already approved re-initiation of allocation process based on revised seniority lists and hence, the dispute should be settled accordingly.