Brief Introduction 

When India became free on 15th Aug 1947, the Nizam’s govt announced its intention to become an
independent state. The State of Hyderabad was liberated from the rule of Nizam by the ‘police
action’( Police action code named as ‘Operation Polo’) of the Govt of India in Sept 1948. After the
formation of Andhra State ( not present Andhra Pradesh) in Oct 1953, the demand for other linguistic
states gained momentum.On Dec 22,1953 Nehru announced in the LokSabha the decision to set uo
State Re-organisation Commission ( SRC ) to examine ‘ objectively and dispassionately’ the whole
question of reorganization of states of Indian Union. The SRC in its report concluded that “…..It will be in
the interest of Andhra as well as Telangana , if, for the present, the Telangana area is constituted into a
separate state, which may be known as Hyderabad state, with the provision that its unification with the
Andhra state after the General elections in 1961, if by the 2/3rds majority the legislature of the
residuary Hyderabad state expresses itself in favour of unification”.

The recommendations of SRC were not well received by public and the congress high command
accepted Visalandhra( present AndhraPradesh). In order to prevent misunderstanding between the two
regions of Andhra and Telangana, the Congress High command arranged a meeting of the leaders of the
regions at Delhi in Feb 1956 resulting into an ‘ Gentlemen’s Agreement’.The Govt of India gave statutory
support to the provisons of the agreement by incorporating them in the SRC Act. On 1 Nov 1956, Nehru
inaugurated the new state ( present Andhra Pradesh ).

Free Zone Conflict

Andhra Pradesh consists of three regions- Rayalseema, Telangana and Andhra(coastal Andhra).Since its
emergence in 1956, Andhra Pradesh was rocked by two serious violent political agitations in 1969 and
1972. The agitation of 1969 was popularly known as Telangana agitation and that of 1972 the Jai Andhra
Movement. The Telangana agitation arose because of the feelings of the people of Telangana that the
‘Gentlemen’s Agreement’ which had facilitated the formation of AndhraPradesh had been violated by
the leaders of Andhra region. Some of their greviances were real but many of them were imaginary.
Leaders of Andhra region did nothing to remove the suspicions of the Telangana people. The influx of
the people of coastal Andhra into the city of Hyderabad had also created its own social tensions. Slowly
the discontent spread to the govt officials and the unemployed youth who got the feeling that hey were
neglected and exploited by the domineering officials of Andhra region and the enterprising people of the
Andhra area. One of the main causes of the dissatisfaction of the people of Telangana was that a large
number of persons from Andhra region were appointed to the posts in Telangana on the ground that
qualified personnel from Telangana were not available. The discontent of the Telangana people
manifested itself when a student of Khammam district went on a hunger strike in Jan 1969.By the
middle of January the agitation spread to other districts.One section of students wanted full
implementation of safeguards while the other section demanded seperation of Telangana from Andhra
Pradesh. The agitation took a violent turn in certain areas.The Chiefminister conveyed an all party
meeting and it was decided to repatriate Andhra officials from Tealngana.. Unfortunately on 20 Jan,
police opened fire on the agitating students at Hyderabad.This incident provoked the students and the
appeal of CM fell on deaf ears.The agitation became very voilent all over Telangana resulting huge
damage to public properties. While this situation was taking a turn for the worse, the Supreme court
granted an injuction on Andhra govt order under which the non Mulkis ( In 1919, the Nizam of
Hyderabad issued an ‘Firman’ , that only ‘Mulkis’ are eligible for public appointments. Mulki is the one
who was born in the Sate of Hyderabad or resided their continiously for 15 years) employed in Telangana
were to be relieved by 28Feb,1969.The agitation took a new turn when some congress legislators from
Telangana supported the students and demanded separate Telangana state.However, the then
PrimeMinister Ms.Gandhi refused to cowed down to the agitations and violence. Slowly the agitation
lost its steam and normalcy returned to the state.

In 1972 Andhra Pradesh witnessed another agitation , popularly known as ‘ Jai Andhra Movement’- this
time in the Andhra region.The agitation was outcome of the Supreme Court’s judgement on what was
known as the “ Mulki issue”. After the trifurcation of Hyderabad state in 1956, the Mulki rules continued
to be in force in the Telangana region. As a result the people of Andhra region found it difficult to enter
into govt service in Telangana region. Some of the Andhra employees challenged the validity of these
rules in the Andhra Pradesh High court, and the full bench of the court held that Mulki rules were not
valid and operative after the formation of Andhra Pradesh. The High court order came as a rude shock to
the people of Telangana who all the while were insisting on the enforcement of Mulki rules. The then
Chief Minister Mr.P.V.Narasimha Rao ( former Prime Minister) in order to placate his fellow Telanganites
announced that the govt would prefer an appeal to the SC against the ruling of AndhraPradesh HC. In
Oct 1972, the Supreme courts gave its verdict on the Mulki rules stating that they were valid and were in
force. This judgement created great political crisis in the State. The people of Andhra region felt that
they were reduced to the status of second class citizens even in their own State Capital. They felt that
the only way to safeguard their dignity and honour was by severing their connections with Telangana.
The Jai Andhra agitation spread like a wild fire and paralysed the administration.President rule was
enforced on the state and the state assembly was kept under suspended animation. The Jai Andhra
movement , though it enjoyed popular support could not make much headway due to lack of proper
leadership. The movement degenerated into a vulgar agitation.Though the agitation continued for 2
months, it failed to impact on the Central govt.
Meanwhile, another twist was given to the agitation when the AndhraPradesh HighCourt declared in
Feb 1973 that only people from outside state who came to Telangana and settled there were Mulkis and
not those who were born and brought up in Telangana( in contarary to Nizams firman). As a result of
this decision Telangana people felt that even the small benefits they got from Mulki rules is lost.
As a result of these developments and gradual loss of public support, the Congressmen both in Andhra
and Telangana regions realised the futility of their demand for a bifurcation of the Sate.They wanted a
face saving formula to call off the agitation. Sensing the changed mood of the people the Central govt
held discussions with the leaders of both regions and evolved what is known as “ SIX POINT FORMULA “
which was endorsed by the leaders of both regions. Among the six points , one point that has relevance
today( giving rise to free zone conflict) and has become bone of contention is – “ Local candidates were
to be preferred to the non gazetted posts”.

The parliament passed the Constitution ( 32nd Amendment ) Bill to give effect to the six points formula
by inserting Art 371(d).Based on the above constitutional amendment ,Presidential order was issued
giving reservation in jobs to local candidates. The state was divided into 6 zones to determine the status
of local or nonlocal for the candiadates applying to the govt jobs.
As time passed , it was noticed and observed that the Presedential orders issued in 1975 was not
implemented properly in providing jobs to the locals thereby causing agitation among the Telangana
people.It is said that thousands of jobs that ought to be filled by the locals of Telangana were filled by
Andhra people. The govt had tried to address this problem by issuing an Governmemt order ( popularly
known in Andhra Pradesh as 610 GO) to repatriate the Andhra people and appoint Telangana people in
that vacancies .

The present free zone conflict arises on the notion that the Presidential order exempts 
from its purview the Hyderabad Police Commissionairet. The recruitment in Hyderabad Police
Commissionairet is open to all without any restriction of locals and non locals.However from the year
2001, it seems that the police commissionerate followed the reservation policy of locals.This led some
candidates to knock the door of Supreme Court.The Supreme Court upheld the contention of the
candidates saying that Hyderabad Police Commissionerate is free from reservation of locals and its
recruiment should be based on Hyderabad Police Commisionerate Act 1938. There are apprehensions in
some quarters that this SC order eventhough applies to police department, may be in coming days they
will slowly try to implement in all govt jobs in Hyderabad resulting Hyderabad into a free zone.