The Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court ruled that candidates for Tamil Nadu government jobs must be able to read and write Tamil. The decision came as the court dismissed a petition by a Tamil Nadu Electricity Board employee who was terminated for not passing the mandatory Tamil language exam. The court emphasized the importance of language proficiency for state government employees.
The Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court ruled that applicants for government jobs in Tamil Nadu must be proficient in reading and writing Tamil.
This decision arose from a case involving M. Jaikumar, a junior assistant at the Tamil Nadu Electricity Board (TNEB), who was dismissed for failing to pass the mandatory Tamil language exam within the allotted two years.
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Jaikumar, Calling out from Theni, argued that he never learned Tamil due to his education in CBSE schools while his father served in the naval service.
While hearing Jaikumar’s petition against TNEB, Justices G. Jayachandran and R. Poornima questioned how a government employee could perform their duties without knowledge of Tamil.
The Bench remarked,
“What can be done if government servants do not know Tamil? How will they handle daily tasks? In any state, government employees must know the state’s language. If not, what can be done?”
The judges stressed that candidates are required to pass the government’s language exam within the specified timeframe and questioned the rationale behind seeking public office without knowledge of Tamil.
The Court then instructed both parties to prepare for final arguments and adjourned the case for six weeks.
This ruling comes amid heightened tensions surrounding language issues in the state. In response to increasing opposition from the BJP, Chief Minister M.K. Stalin has remained firm in his stance against the National Education Policy (NEP), asserting that it represents an attempt by the Centre to impose Hindi on Tamil Nadu.
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Tamil plays a crucial role in securing state government jobs in Tamil Nadu.
1. Official Language of Tamil Nadu
Tamil is the official language of Tamil Nadu and is widely used in government offices, courts, and administration. Proficiency in Tamil is essential for effective communication in public service roles.
2. Mandatory Language Requirement
Many state government jobs require candidates to have studied Tamil as a subject in school or pass a Tamil language proficiency test. For example, the Tamil Nadu Public Service Commission (TNPSC) exams often include a mandatory Tamil eligibility test.
3. Effective Public Service Delivery
Government employees, especially in sectors like administration, police, education, and healthcare, must interact with Tamil-speaking citizens. Fluency in Tamil ensures better service delivery and efficient governance.
4. Competitive Advantage in Exams
Knowledge of Tamil is an advantage in competitive exams, as many general knowledge and descriptive sections include Tamil-related content.
In conclusion, mastering Tamil is not just a requirement but a key to success in Tamil Nadu’s state government jobs.
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