PNS|Vijayawada
Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu on Monday asserted that the State Government is committed to ensuring 100 per cent reservation for local tribals in government jobs in Agency areas.
During a review meeting on Tribal Welfare, the Chief Minister discussed with officials the steps required to restore Government Order (GO) No. 3, which was struck down following judicial review. He recalled that the GO was issued in undivided Andhra Pradesh in 2000 to provide 100 per cent reservation for local tribals in government jobs. In 2020, the Chief Minister had instructed officials to explore the legal possibilities of restoring the GO under Supreme Court guidelines.
Referring to a GO issued in 1986, which granted 100 per cent reservation to Girijans in teaching posts in Agency areas, Naidu noted that GO No. 3 was later introduced in 2000 to address certain legal complications, also taking into account reservations for women. As a result, Girijans secured 4,626 teaching posts in these areas.
He pointed out that legal challenges were filed against GO No. 3 in 2002, and the Supreme Court eventually struck it down in 2020 after multiple hearings. The Chief Minister criticised the previous government for its delay in filing a review petition, which led to the dismissal of the appeal and the resultant loss of benefits for Girijans.
Naidu reiterated his poll promise to either restore GO No. 3 or provide justice to tribals through similar measures. The meeting focused entirely on exploring legal avenues to provide 100 per cent reservation to tribals in Agency areas and identifying legal hurdles. The Chief Minister directed officials to gather feedback from tribals and Girijan unions on the issue.
