Assembly urges Centre to amend Constitution

The state Legislative Assembly on Thursday adopted a resolution requesting the Centre to amend the Constitution so that Hyderabad is retained as Zone VI and not a "Free Zone" for the purpose of recruitment in the police department.

While a free zone meant that candidates from across the state could be recruited for jobs, only those belonging from the zonal area can be recruited if the state capital is retained as Zone VI.

The Assembly passed the resolution following the dismissal of a review petition of the state government filed in the Supreme Court seeking retention of Hyderabad as Zone VI.

Earlier, in its judgement on October 9, 2009, the apex court held that Hyderabad was a free zone as Section 14 (f) of the 1975 Presidential Order excluded certain posts including that of the police from any restriction in matters of appointments and postings.

The state government filed a petition urging the Supreme Court to review its judgement. However, the apex court dismissed the review petition observing that the judgement does not suffer any error warranting its reconsideration.

The issue rocked the Assembly on Wednesday and chief minister, K Rosaiah, convened a meeting of the floor leaders of all parties where it was decided to request the Centre to amend the Constitution for deletion of Section 14 (f).

Accordingly, the resolution was adopted by the House on Thursday.