Telangana HC warns Chief Secretary over delay in DSC-2002 appointments

By Legal Correspondent

Hyderabad: A Division Bench of the Telangana High Court, comprising Acting Chief Justice P. Sam Koshy and Justice N.V. Shravan Kumar, warned that the Chief Secretary to the Government would have to appear in person if the Court’s directions on the appointment of Hindi Pandit Grade-II candidates under DSC-2002 were not implemented.

The Bench expressed strong displeasure over the prolonged delay in complying with its earlier directions, noting that the matter had been pending for several years.

The Court directed the government to implement its orders and submit a compliance report by November 4. It warned that contempt proceedings would be initiated if the directions were not complied with, requiring the Chief Secretary and the officer concerned in the contempt case to appear before the Court.

During the hearing, the Principal Secretary of the School Education Department appeared pursuant to the Court’s earlier directions. The Bench was informed that the necessary clearances from the Finance Department and other concerned authorities had been obtained, but final approval from the competent authority was still awaited.

The Special Government Pleader informed the Bench that the files were pending with the Chief Secretary.

Taking serious note of the delay despite its earlier orders, the Bench directed the government to complete the process within the stipulated time. At the request of the government’s counsel, the matter was adjourned to November 4. The Court made it clear that no further delay would be tolerated.

The contempt proceedings arose from the authorities’ failure to act on the claims of candidates seeking appointment to Hindi Pandit Grade-II posts under the DSC-2002 recruitment notification.

In 2022, the High Court had directed the candidates to submit their representations to the respective District Educational Officers (DEOs) within two weeks. The DEOs were required to examine their eligibility and forward proposals to the government within three months.

The petitioners contend that, despite being qualified and having secured higher marks than some candidates who were appointed, their claims were not considered.

They had earlier approached the Andhra Pradesh Administrative Tribunal, which directed that they be granted notional seniority in accordance with their merit ranking alongside candidates recruited through DSC-2002.

After the government challenged the Tribunal’s order, the High Court directed the authorities in 2022 to examine the candidates’ claims afresh and take an appropriate decision in accordance with the law.

Despite recommendations reportedly being forwarded by the DEOs, the matter remained pending with the government, leading to the contempt proceedings.