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GOVERNMENT OF ANDHRA PRADESH
ABSTRACT
Panchayat Raj and Rural Development-Gram Panchayats-Village Secretariat System in
Gram Panchayats in the State-Further Guidelines regarding recruitment of line
department functionaries-Orders-Issued
PANCHAYAT RAJ AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT (MDL-I) DEPARTMENT
G.O.Ms.No.166 Dt: 30-10-2019.
Read the Following:-
1.G.O.Ms. No.110, Dated 19.07.2019 of Panchayati Raj and Rural
Development (MDL-I) Department.
2.G.O.Ms. No.217, dated: 20.07.2019 of MA&UD (UBS) Department
3.Recruitment Notifications issued 01/2019, dated 26.07.2019.
ORDER:-
Government have accorded permission to fill 95,088 Functional Assistants in
Rural areas and 31,640 Functional Assistants in Urban areas (total of 1,26,728 Posts)
related to 19 types of posts belonging to 13 departments, through open written
examinations.
2. In the reference 3rd read above, notifications were issued for filling up of
1,26,728 posts and the examinations were conducted by the District Selection
Committees from 1st September to 8th September 2019 in all the 13 districts. Out of
19,49,218 candidates appeared for 14 examinations, only 1,98,708 candidates are
qualified in all categories. This constitutes 10.19% of the total number of candidates
who appeared for the examination.
3. Hundreds of representations from all over the State have been received from
candidates who have appeared for the examinations through e-mails, social media
posts, phone calls, tappals, etc., for reducing the cut off marks in different social
categories as the question papers were stated to be quite tough and as a result of
which several meritorious candidates also couldn’t fare well in the written examination.
Besides, representations are received from various students associations and several
news paper articles are published indicating the need for reducing qualifying marks so
that justice could be done to the candidates.
4. Further, it is noticed that after completion of counseling/appointment process,
more than 40% of the posts are remaining vacant in almost all categories and sub-
categories. Some posts and categories show vacancies of even more than 50%.
5. It may be noted that, the State Government have launched the Village/Ward
Secretariat system from 2nd October, 2019 to take administration to the doorsteps of
the people and to deliver the Government schemes under Navaratnalu and other
flagship programs in a transparent and corruption free manner. The State Government
desires to make all the Village/Ward Secretariats fully functional in all aspects from
01.01.2020 onwards. In order to make all PRIs/ULBs vibrant institutions with full-
fledged Secretariat functioning, filling of all the vacancies is very much essential. The
large number of vacancies will adversely affect the intended objective of transparent,
corruption free and effective delivery of citizen services through Village/Ward
Secretariats. Hence, larger public interest demands immediate filling of the notified
vacancies.
6. In view of the above, an Expert Committee was constituted to study and
analyze the results of Village Secretariat Examinations and recommend suitable
measures for taking further appropriate action on various representations received.
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7. The Expert Committee has submitted its report along with its recommendations
to the Government. The Expert Committee in its report has, inter alia, opined that in
some examinations, the papers set were so tough that they were out of the reach of
the candidates, and hence representations from the candidates has certain element of
truth and justification. The results pattern in 14 categories of posts, each comprising 8
social groups (OC, SC, ST, BC A, BC B, BC C, BC D, BC E) and total counting to 112
cases were studied by the Expert Committee and it was found that in 46 cases
significantly large number of posts were vacant.
8. The Expert Committee has also analysed the role of negative marks and found
that out of the 19.50 lakh candidates appeared for the examination, the count of
candidates who secured less than 7.5 negative marks (< 5% of max. marks) is
1,05,917, which means that it constitutes 7.66 % of the total candidates, who have
appeared at the exam. Similarly, 6.22 lakh candidates fall in the range of 7.5 to 15
negative marks (>5% to 10% of max. marks) and it constitutes about 32.87% of the
total candidates. This means that the proportion of candidates who lost marks up to 15
(10% marks) due to negative scoring constitutes about 40.53%. The Committee further
mentioned that, this percentage would go up to 78% if the range is up to 22.5 negative
marks (15% marks) is also taken in to account.
9. The Expert Committee after thorough analysis came to the conclusion that a
measure to offset and rectify the damage caused, is necessary and appropriate. The
High Standard of Question Papers and the Role of Negative Marking has to be
moderated and considering the staggering number of vacant posts, the committee
considered award of Grace Marks to all the candidates @ 10 to 15% on the Max. Marks
i.e (15 to 22.5 Marks) who have appeared in the written examination, as a judicious
onetime measure.
10. Further, addition of Grace Marks @ 10-15% to all the candidates who have
appeared in the competitive written examination shall not entail any adverse
consequences in terms of the Marks awarded to all candidates, Ranking in the Final
Merit List declared and published by the respective District Selection Committees,
Selection of Candidates under various Social Categories, Roaster of Reservation etc.,
and the existing situation would continue except that, hitherto unqualified candidates,
with this addition of Grace Marks shall move up the List, thereby crossing the threshold
of selection and will occupy a place in the Merit List to be considered for selection. In
that sense, addition of Grace Marks would certainly enable the Government to fill up
such a huge number of unfilled vacant posts with immediate effect, thereby serving the
public Interest.
11. Based on the detailed Study, the Expert Committee recommended for awarding
10-15 % Grace Marks on the Max. Marks i.e (15 to 22.5 Marks) to all the Candidates to
fill up the large number of unfilled posts and to do justice to Merit of the candidates.
12. The Expert Committee report and its recommendations were put before the
Committee of Secretaries/HODs for consideration. The Committee of Secretaries/HODs
have gone through the report and after detailed deliberation have recommended that
10% grace marks (minimum of the Expert Committee recommendations) may be
awarded to all the candidates.
13. Government have examined the report of the Expert Committee,
recommendations of Committee of Secretaries / HODs and after due considerations of
the material on record, it is decided to award grace marks 10% to all the candidates
who appeared in the examinations for filling the notified vacancies, in larger public
interest. As such, this will not compromise or dilute the merit and ranks of the selected
candidates in any way. Huge turnout of applicants in examination indicates the fact that
there was wide & fair competition. Hence, in exercise of the powers conferred by para
17 of the Notifications issued in the reference 3rd read above and keeping all in view the
facts and circumstances in mind, the Government hereby order to award 10% grace
marks to all the Candidates across the board who appeared in the examination.
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14. The Commissioner, Panchayat Raj &Rural Development Department and the
Commissioner, Municipal Administration and Urban Development are directed to take
further necessary action in this regard and report compliance to Government.
(BY ORDER AND IN THE NAME OF THE GOVERNOR OF ANDHRA PRADESH)
GOPAL KRISHNA DWIVEDI
PRINCIPAL SECRETARY TO GOVERNMENT
To
The Commissioner, Panchayat Raj &Rural Development Department, Tadepalli.
The Commissioner and Director, Municipal Administration and Urban Development ,
Guntur.
Copy to All The Spl. Chief Secretaries/Prl Secretaries/Secretaries of Line Departments
Concerned.
Copy to All the Head of the Departments Concerned.
Copy to All the District Collectors in the State.
Copy to: The PS to Secretary to Chief Minister, AP Secretariat, Velagapudi.
The PS to Hon’ble Minister, PR & RD and M&G Department, AP Secretariat, Velagapudi.
The PS to Chief Secretary to Government, AP Secretariat, Velagapudi.
The PS to Principal Secretary, PR&RD Department, AP Secretariat, Velagapudi.
SF/SC.
//FORWARDED BY ORDER//
SECTION OFFICER
