HC won’t intervene in ‘Tamil must’ order for vet exam

Justice Ananad Venkatesh before whom the plea moved by a batch of veterinary doctors, including Dr Nandini Devi came up said, “The TNPSC has issued the notification, based on the amendment made to the Special Rules for TNAHS. The said GO (Ms.No.218) has been in force from 2015 and the notification issued by TNPSC is in line with it.”

“Hence, the TNPSC notification cannot be interfered with, unless the GO and the consequential amendment rules are challenged and interfered by this Court. Till that happens, it will not be possible to interfere with the TNPSC notification,” the judge said.

However, Justice Anand Venkatesh while dismissing the pleas also noted, “The issue as to why there is such a prescription to pass Tamil as one of the languages in Higher Secondary Public Examination is an issue for which the government has to come and answer before the court. At this stage, this Court does not want to get into this issue and render a finding.”

“If the petitioners are aggrieved by the GO and the consequent amendment to the Special Rules, it is always open for them to challenge the same,” the judge added.

The petitioners had submitted that the condition prescribing Tamil as one of the subjects in higher secondary in the notification is arbitrary and it has no nexus to the object sought to be achieved. The counsel appearing for them submitted that the petitioners have completed Class 12 by having a different second language. It was argued that Section 21 of the Tamil Nadu Government Servants (Conditions of Service) Act, 2016 provides for linguistic qualification and the condition that has been prescribed in the notification goes against the language of the said provision.

TNPSC Standing Counsel submitted that the Special Rules have been amended and therefore, TNPSC will have to necessarily provide this qualification for selection to the post of Veterinary Assistant Surgeon.