Minister defends veterinary doctor recruitment through Animal Husbandry Department in Andhra Pradesh

Agriculture and Animal Husbandry Minister K. Atchannaidu has defended the State government’s decision to recruit 160 veterinary doctors through the Animal Husbandry Department, rejecting allegations of irregularities in the process.

In a statement on Tuesday, Mr. Atchannaidu said nearly 300 veterinary doctor posts were lying vacant and the previous YSR Congress Party government had not filled a single post during its five-year tenure. “The coalition government has now initiated recruitment process for 160 posts,” he said.

Mr. Atchannaidu said the government had initially proposed filling the vacancies through the Andhra Pradesh Public Service Commission (APPSC). However, the Veterinary Unemployed Association had requested that the existing merit-and-weightage system be retained as candidates had been waiting for recruitment for several years.

He said G.O.Ms.No.52 of October 28, 2016, provided for a 100-mark system, with weightage for BVSc marks, MVSc qualification, contractual service and seniority.