Chandigarh February 26:
Punjab and Haryana High Court has turned down the plea of an aspirant to appear in Punjab Public Service Commission (PPSC) examination through Hindi medium. At present, PPSC examinations are held in Punjabi and English.
A PCS main candidate's plea against the holding of exam in just English and Punjabi has not found favour with the High Court. The petitioner, Mohali-resident Shamsher Singh-an aspirant, had claimed that the official language of the Union, according to Article 343 of the Constitution, was Hindi.
Not finding fault with the option of writing answers only in English or Punjabi to PCS main examination candidates, Division Bench of Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi and Justice Augustine George Masih stated that the procedure was "not faulty". The writ petition, against the State of Punjab and another respondent, has been filed "challenging the Clause 6 of Appendix III to Rule 13-A of the Punjab Civil Service (Executive Branch) Rules, 1976".
The petitioner had cleared the preliminary examination and is due to sit in the main written examination-Punjab State Civil Services Combined Competitive Examination. The petitioner had questioned the "validity of the provisions of the regulations under which a candidate has an option to write his answers either in English or Punjabi and furthermore a compulsory paper in Punjabi with 100 marks has been prescribed". "The challenge primarily is founded on the basis of the provisions contained in Chapter XVII of the Constitution, particularly Article 343, which declares that the official language of the Union shall be Hindi in Dev Nagri Script," observed the Bench.
"The petitioner has also contended that the purpose of competitive examination is to secure the best talent available and keeping in mind the object the option of writing the answers in English or Punjabi has no nexus with the object that is sought to be achieved," added the Bench. Considering the matter, the Bench stated, "The basis on which the writ petition has been structured overlooks the provisions of the Punjab Official Languages Act, 1967, by which the official language of the State has been declared to be Punjabi."
"Under Section 6 of the Act continuance of the English language for such time that the contingency mentioned in the Section does not arise has also been visualized. Thereafter, the use of English language is permissible under the State Act and the Punjabi is the official language of the State," it added. Disposing of the petition, the Bench stated, "We, therefore, do not see how the option of writing the answers in either of the languages i.e. English or Punjabi or the prescription of a mandatory paper in Punjabi can be faulted."
Punjab and Haryana High Court has turned down the plea of an aspirant to appear in Punjab Public Service Commission (PPSC) examination through Hindi medium. At present, PPSC examinations are held in Punjabi and English.
A PCS main candidate's plea against the holding of exam in just English and Punjabi has not found favour with the High Court. The petitioner, Mohali-resident Shamsher Singh-an aspirant, had claimed that the official language of the Union, according to Article 343 of the Constitution, was Hindi.
Not finding fault with the option of writing answers only in English or Punjabi to PCS main examination candidates, Division Bench of Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi and Justice Augustine George Masih stated that the procedure was "not faulty". The writ petition, against the State of Punjab and another respondent, has been filed "challenging the Clause 6 of Appendix III to Rule 13-A of the Punjab Civil Service (Executive Branch) Rules, 1976".
The petitioner had cleared the preliminary examination and is due to sit in the main written examination-Punjab State Civil Services Combined Competitive Examination. The petitioner had questioned the "validity of the provisions of the regulations under which a candidate has an option to write his answers either in English or Punjabi and furthermore a compulsory paper in Punjabi with 100 marks has been prescribed". "The challenge primarily is founded on the basis of the provisions contained in Chapter XVII of the Constitution, particularly Article 343, which declares that the official language of the Union shall be Hindi in Dev Nagri Script," observed the Bench.
"The petitioner has also contended that the purpose of competitive examination is to secure the best talent available and keeping in mind the object the option of writing the answers in English or Punjabi has no nexus with the object that is sought to be achieved," added the Bench. Considering the matter, the Bench stated, "The basis on which the writ petition has been structured overlooks the provisions of the Punjab Official Languages Act, 1967, by which the official language of the State has been declared to be Punjabi."
"Under Section 6 of the Act continuance of the English language for such time that the contingency mentioned in the Section does not arise has also been visualized. Thereafter, the use of English language is permissible under the State Act and the Punjabi is the official language of the State," it added. Disposing of the petition, the Bench stated, "We, therefore, do not see how the option of writing the answers in either of the languages i.e. English or Punjabi or the prescription of a mandatory paper in Punjabi can be faulted."
