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Bodo language in Judicial Services!

By AT Kokrajhar Bureau |

The Bodo lawyers of the BTAD demanded inclusion of Bodo language in Assam Judicial Service examination in the state to pave way competitive welfare to the Bodo medium candidates in judicial service examinations. The lawyers alleged that Bodo medium background candidates are deprived from opportunities of absorbing in judicial jobs due to non inclusion of Bodo language in the judicial service examination in the state.

The Bodo lawyers of the BTAD, Kokrajhar submitted a memorandum to the Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal through the Deputy Commissioner, Kokrajhar seeking inclusion of Bodo language in Assam Judicial Services. The lawyers demanded early implementation of Bodo language while officiating in judicial services job to facilitate competitive exams in judicial related examinations, which9Bodo language) is one of the included language in the 8th scheduled of the Indian constitution. 

Speaking the reporters at Bar Association,Kokrajhar complex on Friday, Ratan Jhangkar Narzary and Rana Basumatary,Bodo Lawyers of the BTAD said that even though the Bodo language has been recognized as associate official language in the state of Assam, but till today the Bodo language was not been being used in the Assam judicial service examinations. They alleged that Bodo medium candidates have been deprived in the judicial service related examinations in the state due to non inclusion of Bodo language in Assam judicial services officiating. They said the Gauhati High Court has been conducting Assam Judicial Service grade I & III examinations for the appointment of judicial officers of the subordinate courts of Assam where Bodo medium candidates should face Assamese language instead of Bodo language, which is not seeing suitable for the appearing candidates.

They said, in a notification from the governor of Assam, dated 15th February, 2016 stated that in continuation of state government, notification no.PLB 96/83/PL/56, dated 28th November, 1989, the governor of Assam is pleased to declare that the Bodo language shall be used as an Associate Official Language in all districts of the state of Assam having substantial Bodo population as provided in Section 5A of The Assam Official Language Act, 1960(Assam  Act No. XXXIII of 1960), but till today Bodo language has been keeping aside in used.

The Bodo lawyers said, prior to 2011,the syllabus of the AJS grade I & III written test examinations was related to law subjects, English and GK only comprising in papers I,II and III, but in 2011 advertisement of the aforesaid examinations it is seen/found that there is included one more paper i.e. IV paper for 50 marks, to test the proficiency of the candidates in official languages of the state of Assam and wherein paper IV only Assamese language is included and accordingly in every subsequent AJS examination only Assamese language has been using to test official language in the said examination till date.

The inclusion of proficiency test of official language of the state of Assam, in AJS examinations is welcome decision for the interest of people of Assam as well as for the protection of outsider candidates from the aforesaid examinations but on the other hand, inclusion of only Assamese language in paper IV in the afore said examination is very unfortunate for the indigenous Bodo medium candidates as because as per sources from 2011 to till date, no single Bodo medium candidate could able to pass in aforesaid examinations, the Bodo lawyers said. They demanded early inclusion of Bodo language into the Assam Judicial Service examinations so that Bodo medium background candidates can seat and write in Bodo language in the AJS related examinations.

In 2012, Bodo lawyers moved to the recruitment cell of the Gauhati High Court, Guwahati due to non inclusion of Bodo language in paper IV, the then concerning authority stated that without notification from the state government of Assam, the Bodo language not be included and after that accordingly memorandum was submitted for notification to include paper IV in AJS examinations to the then Chief Minister of Assam in 2012, but no fruitful result outcome, the bodo lawyers said.

‘Bodo language has been using as an associate official language in BTAD of the state of Assam from 2003 and it is one of the main official language of the BTAD and it is also included in the 8thscheduled of Indian constitution,for that it might be included in any competitive examination in Assam as an official language along with Assamese.But government of Assam as well as Gauhati High Court has been depriving us from our fundamental right which is injustice and on the other hand in UPSC examinations the Bodo language has got equal status with Assamese language’, they said.

‘If  Bodo language is not included in the ensuing AJS examinations as an official langiage proficiency test along with the Assamese, then the Bodo medium candidates will neither able to pass nor get judicial officers/judges jobs in near future which is very unfortunate and harmful for the entire Bodo communities in the field of judicial department’,the Bodo lawyers said.

The Bodo lawyers urged the Chief Minister to take bold step as well dynaic leadership while issuing a notification by passing in cabinet for inclusion of Bodo language in AJS examinations to the Gauhati High Court as soon as possible as an official language along with Assamese for the greater interest of Bodo medium candidate as well Bodo community .

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Assam Times Kokrajhar bureau office, BTAD.
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