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KOKRAJHAR: In continuation of a series of stir, the All Bodo Students Union (ABSU) on Thursday burnt down the advertisement copies of Gauhati High Court for Jr Administrative Assistant in district courts in various districts of BTC and BKWAC due to the exclusion of the Bodo language. In Kokrajhar also, the ABSU activists burnt the advertisement copies as a mark of protest against alleged discrimination towards Bodo language.
ABSU president Dipen Boro said that strong protests continued in various districts of Assam (BTR and BKWAC) demanding inclusion of Bodo language option in recent advertisements of Gauhati High Court for Jr Administrative Assistant in district courts where Assamese is compulsory for 20 marks, and Assam Judicial Service Examination, Grade-III where Assamese is compulsory for 50 marks. He said that the programme of burning of advertisement copies was observed at the district level. He also said that the exclusion was a discriminatory attitude towards Bodo language though it had been given recognition in 8th schedule of the Indian Constitution and Associate Official language as per the Assam Official Language (Amendment) Act, 2020.
Boro said, “We have full confident and trust that the High Court and the Assam Government will take up the matter soon. Our movement will continue until justice is not accorded.”
Recently, the ABSU submitted a memorandum to the State Election Commission through DC, Kokrajhar demanding the publication of the BTC Electoral Roll, 2025 in Bodo language along with Assamese. "The Bodo language is a recognized language under the 8th Schedule of the Indian Constitution. As per Section 5A of the Assam Official Language (Amendment) Act, 2020, it is clearly stated that without prejudice to the provisions contained in Section 3, the Bodo language shall be used as an Official Language for all or any of the official purposes of the State of Assam, as specified in the Schedule, in districts and subdivisions having a substantial Bodo population,” the ABSU President said in the memorandum adding that they had submitted a petition to the Registrar of Gauhati High Court demanding inclusion of Bodo language in all examinations of recruitment conducted by the Gauhati High Court. ABSU has also urged the inclusion of Bodo language in recruitment examinations such as the Assam Judicial Service Grade III, where Paper-V currently includes 50 marks for Assamese language.
Similarly, the recent advertisement for Junior Administrative Assistant (JAA) posts in district courts allocates 20 marks for Assamese language proficiency. The exclusion of Bodo language from such examinations would unfairly disadvantage candidates from Bodo-medium backgrounds and deny them equal employment opportunities, the memorandum added.
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