Centre cancels postal examination, to be re-held in local languages

The exam will be held again in all local languages, it was conducted only Hindi and English this time.

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Amidst strong protests led by the AIADMK, CPI, DMK and TMC over the demand to conduct the exams for postal department exam in Tamil and other regional languages, the Union government cancelled it on Tuesday. The announcement was made in the Rajya Sabha by Union Minister for Law Ravi Shankar Prasad.

Responding to the protests by the Tamil MPs, he said, "I have certain issues raised by the honorable members including my friends from Tamil Nadu, I examined the matter and it is now being decided to cancel the examination. The examination will now be held in all local languages including Tamil."

The MPs claimed injustice to the state, as the Centre decided to conduct the exams in just English and Hindi. The MPs shouted slogans and demanded the Centre to cancel the exams and hold it afresh by including Tamil as a language for the exams.

The proceedings were adjourned thrice during the pre-lunch period due to relentless protest by the Tamil MPs.

Ravi Shankar Prasad added, "The Government led by Shri Narendra Modi, has respect for all the regional languages of this country, including Tamil. I have myself seen the depth of the Tamil language when I was the in-charge there, and all other languages. Therefore, this Government's commitment to respect all languages is full and total. This issue was brought to my notice. I got a little late -- and I apologize for that -- as I had called for all the files, examined the matter and then, I took the decision that it should be cancelled. I think this should satisfy everybody, including Dr. Maitreyan."

Last week the postal department's released notification for the recruitment exam which had stated that candidates can write the exam only in Hindi or English. The move to restrict the exam only to Hindi and English was reportedly done just three days before the exams, without any publicity.

The exams were conducted on Sunday. Subsequently, an activist, I Aseervatham, the State Coordinator of People Watch, an organization working for the protection of human rights in Tamil Nadu filed a PIL in the Madras High Court on the same day, asking them to put a stay on the results, and also requested the court to intervene and restore the previous notification of allowing the candidates to write the exam in the regional language.

The DMK too was miffed by the decision. On Monday, the Opposition party, staged a walk-out from the Tamil Nadu Assembly as the AIADMK did not agree to their demand of passing a resolution to recall the controversial rule.

DMK MP Dayanidhi Maran has also reacted to the decision of Union Minister, he tweeted "Accepting the #DMK's demand to revoke the decision to conduct postal exams only in Hindi & English, Communications Minister Thiru @rsprasad has announced in Lok Sabha today that the exams will be conducted in all regional languages and cancelled the exams conducted last Sunday."