Hindi to be included in list of languages in pre-job exams: J’khand tells HC

Ranchi: The Jharkhand government on Wednesday informed the state High Court that it is willing to include Hindi as one of the languages in certain pre-employment examinations. Supreme Court advocate Mukul Rohtagi, arguing for the state, said that Hindi will be included in the list of subjects in the examinations conducted by the Jharkhand Staff Selection Commission (JSSC). The court ordered the government to file a composite and detailed counter affidavit in the matter. The next date of hearing is on July 20.

A division bench of Chief Justice Dr Ravi Ranjan and Justice Sujit Narayan Prasad was hearing several petitions filed by aggrieved candidates who had opted to appear in the examinations conducted by the JSSC. Ramesh Hansda, a student has challenged the removal of English and Hindi as subjects in the language paper offered by the JSSC. The rules also forbid candidates in the general category who have their matriculation and intermediate certificates from institutions outside the state to be eligible to sit for the exams.

However, candidates in the reserved category do not face ineligibility even if their matriculation and intermediate certificates are from outside the state. Hansda along with another candidate Kushal Kumar have questioned the formulation of the rules and have termed it discriminatory.

The question of domicile has also been contradicted by the Commission. A candidate who passed the matriculation examination from the state and did intermediate from outside the state has been debarred to appear in the exams as per the rules.

Rashmi Kumari, a prospective candidate, has also moved the high court stating that she has done her matriculation from the state and has residential certificate from the local circle office. She went out of the state and after completion of her intermediate exams returned home. She has been denied to appear in the JSSC exams which has been challenged before the high court.