Interview system for Group II on cards

Non-executive posts under new category called Group III

Hyderabad: The Telangana State government is contemplating to introduce interview system for the Group-II cadre posts. The cabinet sub-committee which was constituted to look into scheme of the examination for the government jobs had recommended interview system for Group II cadre posts. A final decision will be taken after the Cabinet gives its nod.

The recommendations were given to the Chief Minister after Cabinet sub-committee consisting of Deputy Chief Minister and Education Minister Kadiyam Srihari, Agriculture Minister Pocharam Srinivas Reddy and Health Minister Ch Laxma Reddy met at Secretariat here on Wednesday.

The Andhra Pradesh government in the undivided state had abolished interview system during Kiran Kumar Reddy’s regime. Ever since the abolition, no examination for Group II posts was held. Now the Telangana government is mulling to reintroduce interview system for the Group II posts.

Besides it, the government intends to bring in Group II non-executive posts under new category called Group III. Presently, executive and non-executive posts were filled up through Group II exams. But now, the Telangana government wants separate it by creating new category i.e. Group III.

If all goes according to the recommendations of the cabinet Sub-committee posts like municipal commissioner (municipal administrative Sub-service), assistant commercial tax officers (Commercial Tax Sub-services) deputy Tahsildar (revenue sub-service) would be under Group II. Posts like senior accountant (life insurance sub-service), auditor (Pay and accountants sub-services), senior accountant (Treasuries & accounts sub-services), so on so forth would be placed under Group III.

Besides it, the government also wants to implement the interview system for the non-executive Group III posts. An official, close to this issue, said that interview system should be there for the services. “A person who is selected for Group II post (municipal commissioner) can go up to conferred IAS cadre through departmental promotions.

If interviews are not held, we cannot ascertain the personality of the person,” the official added. It is said that the expert committee, constituted into the scheme of examination for government jobs, had proposed to have descriptive question paper instead of objective for the Group II services.

But the sub-committee chose to continue objective type of question paper not only for Group II but also for Group III and IV services. However, the cabinet sub-committee did not recommend interview system for the Group IV posts. According to the sources, the sub-committee did not tweak the Group I posts, but gave a green signal for the inclusion of sixth paper, i.e. an exclusive paper on Telangana movement and state formation. This means, there would be six papers instead of five in the Group I exams.

While CM Chandrashekar Rao announced that if need be 10 years of age relaxation would be given to the government job aspirants, highly placed sources informed that the sub-committee recommended to the CM only for five years age relaxation. “If 10 years age relaxation is given, at the age of 49, a candidate comes into the government service having only eight years to serve and retires. Hence, the sub-committee recommended only five years,” sources added. The committee’s recommendations are subjected to the CM’s approval.

By:Yuvraj Akula