Probe into APSPDCL Recruitment Raises Scrutiny on Official Involvement
APSPDCL is facing scrutiny over alleged use of fake ITI certificates for employment. The investigation has led to termination of 69 employees and focuses on identifying official involvement in such practices.
Highlights
- •Hundreds of APSPDCL workers employed with fake ITI certificates
- •Investigation uncovered discrepancies between job qualifications and educational records
- •Recruitment process examined from 2019 to 2024 for irregularities
- •Employee re-entry attempts via newly acquired ITI (Electrician) certificates
Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh Southern Power Distribution Company Limited (APSPDCL) is under investigation for employing workers with fake ITI certificates. Since 2019, the company has been accused of hiring hundreds of contract personnel in violation of rules, including shift operators. When the NDA government assumed power, it initiated an inquiry covering recruitments between 2019 and 2024 to verify educational qualifications.
Investigation Reveals Widespread Issues
As a result of the investigation, APSPDCL terminated the services of 69 shift operators in April this year after discovering fake ITI certificates. Some employees continued working even though their education records indicated they lacked necessary qualifications for substation roles.
According to sources close to the investigation, dismissed employees are trying to return to service by producing new ITI (Electrician) certificates. The probe also revealed that some candidates submitted documents related to fields other than electrical engineering to secure positions.
To establish the truth, investigators are now focusing on how these candidates managed to be selected initially and whether officials facilitated their appointments. This includes examining approvals at various levels of management and documents from outsourcing agencies involved in hiring practices.
The Vigilance team is also probing for any monetary transactions or potential collusion among employees, outsourcing agencies, and departmental personnel. Recruitment records from 2019 to 2024 are under scrutiny. APSPDCL's chairman, Shiva Shankar Lotheti, has stated the firm will not reconsider sacking those who used fraudulent certificates.
The latest inquiry aims at a thorough examination of the entire recruitment process, from educational verifications to approvals at every stage, ensuring no irregularities go unnoticed.
