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The Tamil Nadu government has decided to restrict individuals who are appointed in government service from availing themselves of the preference under the Tamil Nadu Persons Studied in Tamil Medium (PSTM) Act, 2010, if they have availed the preference already.
They will be allowed to compete for such preferential vacancies only in posts carrying a higher level of pay. Minister for Human Resources Management N. Kayalvizhi Selvaraj moved a Bill in the Assembly on Friday, seeking to amend the Act.
The Act sets apart 20% of all vacancies for direct recruitment in Tamil Nadu services as preferential appointment vacancies for persons who studied in the Tamil medium.
The intention of the government was to extend the said benefit to persons who studied in Tamil medium, without restricting it to those who are not in services under the State.
The State government has been giving preference to persons who studied in Tamil medium in appointments in services through all direct recruitment, irrespective of whether the candidate was previously employed in government service.
However, the Madras High Court, interpreting the definition of the term ‘direct recruitment’ in Section 2(a) of the Act, has held that persons already in government service are not entitled to preferential appointment under the Act.
“It has therefore been decided to substitute clause (a) of Section 2 of the Act to make the intention clear and to validate the notifications already issued as well as selection or appointments made by recruiting agencies or the appointing authorities from September 7, 2010, i.e. the date on which the said Act came into force...”
The Bill further said: “The government has decided that thereafter, persons who have already availed the said preference and appointed in government service shall be allowed to compete for such preferential vacancies only in posts carrying a higher level of pay”. The Bill is expected to be taken up for consideration by the House on January 24.
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