Revise norms for PDS dealers: HC

HYDERABAD: Disposing of a batch of writ petitions challenging GO No.4 dated February 19, 2011 prescribing guidelines for appointment of fair-price shop dealers, justice Nooty Ramamohana Rao of the High Court directed the government on Friday to review, within four weeks, its decision to allocate 50 percent marks for written examination and 50 percent for oral interview for selection of FPS dealers in the state.The judge made it clear that no further appointments basing on the said GO would take place till the same was revised by the government.He told the government to review Para 2 of the GO which deals with allocation of marks of 50 percent for written test and 50 percent for oral interview.Citing various judgements of the Supreme Court in allocating 50 percent marks for oral interview was on a higher side and arbitrary, the petitioners contended that if 50 percent marks were allotted for the interview the person getting very less marks in the written test may be given a chance by giving more marks in the interview by the authorities concerned.They apprehended that this would lead to selecting persons of their choice by the authorities.Until the GO was revised by allocating 85 percent for written test and 15 percent for oral interview the irregularities in making selections cannot be curbed.S Dushyanth Reddy, counsel for one of the petitioners, brought to the notice of the court that the authorities had issued a notification to appoint dealers in Nandyal of Kurnool district and the test was scheduled for Feb 25.He urged the court to grant stay on the test.The judge instructed the counsel for the civil supplies to convey the court's decision to the authorities.