ANANTAPUR: Physically challenged persons, who had assembled at the Medium and Minor Irrigation Circle office here on Monday to attend an interview for the post of attender (lone vacancy), ransacked the office allegedly due to the change in eligibility criteria without informing the candidates after they filed applications.

About 1,200 physically challenged candidates turned up for the interview and a majority of them were upset after seeing the notice board that the eligibility criteria mentioned in the notification given in December 2005 had been changed without informing them.

In the notification issued for filling the lone attender's post reserved for the physically challenged persons last month, the minimum eligibility for applying was mentioned as seventh standard pass. But, after receiving a deluge of applications (around 1,200) for the single post, the officials changed the minimum eligibility as an aggregate of 420 marks in six subjects.

Interviews delayed

However, the change was not informed to the candidates even in the form of corrigendum to the notification. As a result, there was a heavy turnout for the interview scheduled today.

While the interviews were scheduled to commence from 10 a.m. head of the selection committee and Superintending Engineer C.V.V. Rajan turned up at 11.30 a.m. The anger brewing among a majority of the candidates, disappointed due to the change in the eligibility criteria, coupled with the delay in the commencement of interviews gave vent in the form of ransacking the office. Irate candidates broke the door and windows.

Officials' assurance

The officials then sought the help of the police to bring the situation under control. Later, the officials assured the aggrieved candidates that their concern would be taken to the notice of their higher-ups and conduct an interview for all the candidates.

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