Postal exams cancelled, will be held in regional languages: Govt

The government on Tuesday (July 16) cancelled the postal exam for recruitment of postmen and other posts in the postal department, following vociferous protests by the AIADMK and DMK in the Rajya Sabha demanding that the test be held in Tamil too.

Law and Justice Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad announced that the exams which were conducted on Sunday would stand cancelled and be conducted in regional languages, including in Tamil.

“Certain issues were raised in this House by members, including my friends from Tamil Nadu. I have examined the matter today itself and it has been decided to cancel the
examination held on 14-7-2019,” Prasad said.

The minister said the government led by Narendra Modi has respect for all regional languages, including Tamil. “I have myself seen the depth of language of Tamil when I was (election) in-charge there, and all other languages. Therefore this government’s commitment to respecting all languages is full and total,” Prasad said.

In a recent order, the postal department had said that candidates applying for posts of postmen, mail guard and other posts could take Paper I in English and Hindi only. Earlier, the candidates had been allowed write the paper in preferred regional languages.

The order had triggered massive outrage in Tamil Nadu, with opposition DMK urging the Centre to cancel the exam and conduct it in regional languages. The AIADMK joined the protests by DMK, CPI, and CPI-M members later.

Proceedings of the Rajya Sabha on Tuesday (July 16) were adjourned thrice during the pre-lunch period after repeated protests by Tamil parties led by the AIADMK over their demand that the exam for postmen be held in Tamil language.

On July 15, AIADMK leader A Navaneethakrishnan had raised the issue through a Zero Hour mention, saying questions in the postal department’s examination for appointments of postmen and assistants in rural areas held on Sunday were only in Hindi and English, and not Tamil.

People Watch’s state coordinator I Aseervatham had filed a petition before the Madras High Court on Friday (July 12) requesting the department to restore the earlier rule which allowed candidates to write the test in local languages.

The bench comprising justices K Ravichandrababu and R Mahadevan late on Saturday restrained the postal department from publishing the results of the postal exam, held on Sunday (July 14).

In the postal examination for certain posts including postman, postal assistant and mail guard, candidates have to write two Paper I and Paper II. Paper I consists of one mark multiple choice questions (MCQs). Paper II includes translations and subjective type questions along with MCQs. The one-hour long exam is conducted in one sitting and the candidate needs to clear both the parts to be considered for the job. Only candidates who qualify in each paper shall be considered for the final selection and their merit shall be drawn in order of marks secured in Paper I.

(With agencies inputs)