Strongly opposing the decision of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) to conduct its recruitment examination for constables only in Hindi and English, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin on Sunday, April 9, 2023, wrote to Union Home Minister Amit Shah urging him conduct the recruitment in Tamil and other regional languages so that the youth from non-Hindi speaking States get an equal opportunity to serve the paramilitary force.
In his letter to Mr. Shah, Mr. Stalin pointed out that a “hidden feature” of the notification was that out of the 100 marks, 25 marks was earmarked for basic understanding of Hindi, which meant the notification was heavily loaded to favour the Hindi speakers. This recruitment notification of the CRPF jeopardised the interests of candidates from Tamil Nadu and was “not only arbitrary but also apparently discriminatory”.
The CRPF has issued a notification for the recruitment of 9,212 constables across the country of which 579 vacancies are to be filled in Tamil Nadu. There are 12 centres in Tamil Nadu to appear for the computer-based test (CBT). “But the candidates appearing for this examination from Tamil Nadu cannot write the above examination in their mother tongue Tamil - that too in their own State”, he pointed out.
Though the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution recognises Tamil and other State languages as official languages, it has shocked each and every youth of Tamil Nadu to see the CRPF notification that the CBT would be held only in English and Hindi. “A dispassionate reading of the notification reveals that it has been done intentionally to discriminate the candidates from Tamil Nadu and also to deprive of their opportunity to serve the paramilitary force of the nation.”
The notification that the CBT would be held only in English and Hindi was “offending the Constitutional right of the youngsters” who wish to appear for this examination and “denied equality of opportunity in public employment or appointment,” the CM said and went on to request the Union Home Minister to urgently look into this matter.
The CM urged Mr. Shah to instruct the CRPF authorities to amend the notification for the recruitment and to conduct the CBT in Tamil and other State languages also, so that the youth from non-Hindi speaking States would also get an equal opportunity to serve as the CRPF constables.
