Andhra Pradesh Government Defends DSC-2025 Recruitment Process Amidst Political Storm

State officials reject allegations of irregularities in the mega teacher recruitment drive, citing strict adherence to constitutional reservation norms and merit-based selection.

The Andhra Pradesh government has moved to quell growing unrest surrounding the DSC-2025 teacher recruitment drive, with top bureaucrats firmly dismissing claims of procedural manipulation. During a joint press conference on Friday, Special Chief Secretary (Services) S. S. Rawat and Education Secretary Kona Sashidhar characterized the allegations circulating on social media and within political circles as baseless, insisting that the entire exercise was conducted with transparency and in strict compliance with Supreme Court guidelines.

The controversy stems from the first large-scale application of G.O.Ms. No. 77, which governs the implementation of horizontal reservations. Critics, including the YSRCP, have alleged that the recruitment process was marred by a "mega scam," leading to statewide protests and demands for a CBI probe. YSRCP leaders have claimed that candidates have flagged specific grievances to former Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy, prompting the party to call for a high-level investigation and the resignation of Minister Nara Lokesh.

Clarifying Horizontal vs. Vertical Reservations

Addressing the technical confusion surrounding the recruitment, officials explained the distinct application of reservation categories. While vertical reservations for SC, ST, BC, and EWS communities follow a traditional 100-point roster system, horizontal reservations—which apply to women, persons with disabilities, ex-servicemen, and sportspersons—do not utilize fixed roster points. Instead, these are integrated within the candidate’s respective social category.

"Assigning fixed roster points in advance was not the prescribed method for implementing horizontal reservations," Mr. Sashidhar clarified. He noted that because this was the first major recruitment exercise under the new guidelines, some misunderstanding regarding the adjustment of these quotas was expected, though he maintained that no constitutional rules were violated in the process.

Rigorous Verification Standards

The state also addressed specific concerns regarding the sports and disability quotas. SAAP Vice-Chairman and Managing Director Bharani emphasized that sportsperson selections were finalized only after a rigorous verification of certificates issued by accredited national federations, recognized sports associations, and universities. Similarly, for the disability quota, the Education Department mandated that only applicants certified by medical boards with a minimum of 40% disability were deemed eligible, adhering strictly to the recruitment notification terms.

As the political heat rises, student organizations like the ABVP have entered the fray, demanding that the government release a comprehensive white paper to demystify the selection process and address the mounting skepticism. While the state government remains firm that all appointments were made strictly on the basis of merit, the divide between official assurances and the demands of opposition parties highlights the high stakes of this recruitment drive for thousands of aspiring teachers across Andhra Pradesh.