Amaravati, September 2026 : The Andhra Pradesh government has strongly rejected allegations of irregularities in the Mega DSC 2025 teacher recruitment process, including appointments made under the sports quota, asserting that the recruitment was conducted transparently and in accordance with the prescribed rules and guidelines.
School Education Commissioner Thameem Ansariya and Sports Authority of Andhra Pradesh (SAAP) Vice-Chairperson and Managing Director Bharani addressed a media conference at Vidya Bhavan in Amaravati and responded to allegations that have circulated on social media and other media platforms over the past 10 days. The officials addressed questions relating to sports quota appointments, eligibility criteria, TET qualifications, individual candidates and the verification of certificates.
The officials maintained that the government would not protect anyone found to have secured an appointment through fraudulent documents or by violating eligibility conditions. At the same time, they stressed that genuine candidates should not be deprived of employment merely because allegations had been levelled against them without verification.
Sports quota appointments
Addressing concerns over sports quota recruitment, Bharani said the selection process had been carried out in accordance with the guidelines issued by the Central government. She explained that before the final selection list was prepared, details of candidates were published in a 1:5 ratio, giving stakeholders an opportunity to raise objections.
The objection period was open from August 8 to 14, 2025, she said. According to Bharani, no objections or complaints relating to the judo certificates now under scrutiny were received during this period.
She said the level of public scrutiny surrounding the recruitment process was partly due to SAAP's decision to make extensive candidate information available online. Bharani pointed out that earlier recruitment exercises, including Grama/Ward Sachivalayam recruitments and previous DSC examinations, had not attracted a similar level of controversy because comparable information about candidates and their credentials had not been placed in the public domain.
Defending the decision to disclose the information, she said SAAP had deliberately chosen not to conceal recruitment-related details. She questioned how any collusion with sports associations or outside influence could have taken place if SAAP had uploaded candidate details and certificates online within 24 hours when asked to do so.
Bharani alleged that some individuals were now selectively using publicly available information to target sports quota candidates and make defamatory claims against them. She said the information had been placed in the public domain precisely to promote transparency and fairness.
Judo certificates under scrutiny
One of the major issues raised during the controversy relates to certificates allegedly issued in connection with the 2013 Senior Inter-District Judo Tournament in Khammam district. Media reports have alleged that four candidates secured government teaching posts under the sports quota on the basis of certificates linked to the tournament.
Questions have also been raised over whether the tournament was actually conducted. It has further been alleged that some individuals whose signatures appeared on the certificates subsequently denied having signed them and claimed that their signatures had been forged.
Bharani said SAAP's role in such cases was subject to the verification provided by the relevant sports association or national federation. The authority, she explained, could not independently certify the authenticity of every historical sporting certificate.
During the recruitment process, the certificates submitted by the candidates were referred to the concerned Judo Association for verification. The association officially confirmed that the certificates were genuine, following which SAAP proceeded with the recruitment process on the basis of that verification.
She also highlighted the fact that no objections were received during the designated grievance period. SAAP had published the tentative 1:5 list and invited objections between August 8 and 14, 2025. According to Bharani, neither the individuals who have now alleged that their signatures were forged, nor other candidates or members of the public, raised objections regarding the judo certificates during that period or immediately after publication of the final results.
The issue subsequently became part of Public Interest Litigation (PIL) No. 170, filed before the Andhra Pradesh High Court on July 23, 2026.
Verification of old sporting records
Bharani explained that verification of historical sports certificates can be particularly difficult because the certificates in question relate to an event said to have taken place in 2013, before the bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh in 2014.
Following bifurcation, SAAP was shifted from Hyderabad to Amaravati. Several older physical records relating to sporting events conducted before bifurcation remained with parent organisations and bodies based in Hyderabad. Consequently, SAAP does not have a comprehensive physical database covering every local sporting event conducted before the state bifurcation.
Bharani said it was therefore not practically possible for SAAP to independently verify every historical sporting record submitted by every candidate. Verification by the concerned sports association or national federation was necessary, particularly in cases involving older records.
She rejected allegations of collusion between SAAP and the Judo Association and said the matter was currently sub judice.
She further said that, following directions issued by the High Court in PIL No. 170, a three-month vigilance enquiry was examining the Judo Association and the certificates issued by it. SAAP, she said, was cooperating fully with the enquiry and providing vigilance authorities with all available records and supporting documents.
The government maintained that if the investigation establishes that any sports certificate was fraudulent or that any selected candidate was ineligible, appropriate action would be taken according to law. However, officials stressed that allegations by themselves should not be treated as proof of wrongdoing.
They said genuine candidates must not suffer injustice merely because their names or certificates had become the subject of allegations. The government would take action based on the findings of the verification and vigilance enquiry.
Bharani added that the state government would comply with the final directions of the High Court after submission of the vigilance report and would implement any punishment or other action ordered by the court.
Clarification on individual candidates
Officials also responded to allegations concerning individual sportspersons. In the case of national-level boxer Pedda Appala Raju, they said a certificate belonging to his brother had mistakenly been uploaded along with his documents. The incorrect document was subsequently removed.
Officials maintained that Pedda Appala Raju's own documents were genuine and had been duly verified, including through available online video footage.
Questions were also raised over Telugu Desam Party MLA Kona Ravi Kumar signing documents in his capacity as president of the Softball Association. Officials said the national federation had formally authorised him to sign the documents and maintained that the action was in accordance with the applicable rules.
TET eligibility and EWS certificates
School Education Commissioner Thameem Ansariya separately addressed questions relating to Teacher Eligibility Test (TET) qualifications.
She said Prabhakar, a Backward Classes candidate from Kurnool, had qualified in the TET after securing 77 marks. A three-member committee was constituted on September 5 to examine the matter and provide further clarity.
Ansariya also clarified the case of Jampala Usha, another Backward Classes candidate. She said Usha had qualified in the TET in 2012 with 80 marks. At that time, there was no separate TET examination for language pandits, and therefore her certificate continued to remain valid.
The Commissioner said the qualifications of other candidates were also in accordance with the prescribed recruitment rules.
On questions surrounding Economically Weaker Section (EWS) certificates, Ansariya said their issuance falls under the jurisdiction of the Revenue Department. Certificates about which doubts had been raised have been referred to the respective district collectors for re-examination.
Warning over harassment of teachers
The government also took serious note of an incident reported from a school in Kuppam on Teachers' Day. According to Ansariya, two individuals identified as Srikanth, described as a Sakshi reporter, and Ganesh allegedly entered a classroom and assaulted and harassed a teacher who is a retired Army havildar. The teacher was allegedly grabbed by the collar during the incident.
Ansariya said a suo motu case had been registered in connection with the incident.
She further alleged that some individuals claiming to be media representatives were attempting to blackmail teachers. The Commissioner warned that strict criminal action would be taken against anyone found harassing, threatening or blackmailing teachers.
The government reiterated that the recruitment process would remain subject to scrutiny wherever credible evidence was available. It said allegations would be investigated through the appropriate mechanisms and that anyone found guilty would face action under the law.
At the same time, officials appealed to the public and media organisations to avoid making baseless allegations that could damage the reputation and careers of candidates who had secured appointments legitimately.
The Andhra Pradesh government said anyone possessing evidence of wrongdoing in the Mega DSC 2025 recruitment process could submit the information to the grievance cell at Vidya Bhavan. The government maintained that complaints supported by credible evidence would be examined through the appropriate verification and investigative procedures.
