Free Zone Issue Rocks AP Assembly

The AP Legislative Assembly session today was disrupted by the Opposition, over the issue of Hyderabad's "free zone" status, even as the CM tried to assure the Assembly that there is no doubt that Hyderabad is part of Zone 6. He said it was not proper to hold discussion over the matter as it was still lying in court.

While in 2001 the AP High Court ruled that Hyderabad is not a free zone, the ruling was over-turned in 2009, which implied that Hyderabad is a free zone. The Supreme Court, on Tuesday, had rejected a petition filed by the AP government, seeking to review the 2009 order.

The zoning, owing to a 1975 Presidential Order, divides the state into 6 zones for the purpose of recruitment for state government jobs, and protects the interests of locals as where these jobs are concerned.

The entire Opposition brigade - including the TDP, the TRS, the Left, and the Lok Satta as well - is up in arms against what it calls the inaction of the Rosaiah government. The Telangana JAC, that met today, had the free zone issue on its agenda for its meeting.