Postpone APP exam scheduled on sarpanch polling day: Harish Rao

Former Minister T. Harish Rao urged the State government to defer the APP written exam slated for December 14, as it clashes with the second phase of gram panchayat polling. Nearly 4,000 advocates risk losing their voting right due to the schedule.

Hyderabad: Former Minister and BRS senior leader T Harish Rao on Tuesday demanded the postponement of the Assistant Public Prosecutor (APP) written examination scheduled for December 14, as it coincides with the second phase of polling for gram panchayat elections across Telangana.

A delegation of lawyers, led by senior High Court advocate Shiva Shekhar, met Harish Rao at his residence and submitted a representation requesting him to mount pressure on the State government to defer the exam.

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Speaking on the occasion, Harish Rao said the Telangana State Public Service Commission (TSPSC) had notified the written examination for filling 118 Assistant Public Prosecutor posts on December 14. However, the same day has been fixed for the second phase of polling in the statewide gram panchayat elections. Nearly 4,000 advocates are appearing for this examination. The exam centres are located only in Hyderabad, while the candidates’ votes are recorded in their native villages. The exam is scheduled from 10 am to 5 pm, making it practically impossible for the candidates to travel to their villages and exercise their franchise,” Harish Rao pointed out.

He emphasized that the Constitution guarantees every citizen the right to vote and no one should be deprived of this fundamental right in the name of an examination. Denying thousands of young lawyers their voting right by conducting the APP exam on the polling day is unfair and unconstitutional. The State government must immediately intervene and reschedule the examination to another date so that these candidates do not suffer, the former minister demanded.

Harish Rao assured the lawyers’ delegation that he would take up the issue with the authorities concerned and ensure that the examination is postponed.