Naidu alleges Group-I exam evaluation irregularities during YSRCP govt
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu on Wednesday, August 19 said that large-scale irregularities had taken place in the Group-I service examinations during the previous YSRCP government.
Addressing the state Assembly, Naidu alleged that the previous government had caused widespread damage to the state and had acted in a manner that eroded public confidence in government institutions.
“Large-scale irregularities had occurred in the Group – I examination during the previous government. People and job seekers should thoroughly know about this matter,” Naidu said.
He said the government would establish a “watertight system” to prevent such incidents in the future.
Naidu said a notification for the Group-I examination was issued in 2018, attracting 1.14 lakh applications, after which 325 candidates were shortlisted.
He said the High Court had directed that the answer scripts be evaluated manually, setting aside the digital evaluation process. However, Naidu alleged that the previous government misled the court through affidavits.
The chief minister further alleged that despite the court's directions, the then government ordered the evaluation to be conducted at Hailand, a private resort, at a cost of Rs 1.19 crore.
According to Naidu, the evaluation work at Hailand was handed over to private individuals, even though the resort was under the control of the CID in connection with another case.
“Examinations written for positions of Group- I officers were evaluated by electricians, drivers, plumbers and security guards,” Naidu said.
He claimed that 66 people had carried out the evaluation without authorisation.
Naidu alleged that answer scripts were evaluated by people who were neither eligible nor qualified for the task, instead of professors and subject experts. He claimed that the process had been compromised to such an
extent that even electricians, drivers, plumbers and security guards were involved in evaluating answer scripts.
He said the involvement of such personnel in the evaluation process demonstrated the seriousness of the alleged irregularities.
