more-in Former Member of Parliament M. Ramadass has urged Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh to direct officials of his Ministry to uphold the decision of the Cabinet of the Puducherry government to alter the age criterion for the post of constable in the police force, from 18-22 years to 18-24 years. In a memorandum addressed to Mr. Singh, Mr. Ramadass said that the Cabinet had decided to alter the age criterion to 18-24 years, following demands from various sections of the society and political parties. The government has invited applications for recruitment of nearly 423 police constables. Though the cabinet had forwarded the proposal to Lieutenant Governor Kiran Bedi for her approval, Ms. Bedi didn’t accord her assent and returned the file to the elected government thrice. Mr. Ramadass pointed out that the Puducherry government’s reference to the Union Home Ministry on a very trivial matter like the relaxation of age for a Group ‘C’ post was unnecessary, but warranted by the refusal of the administrator of the Union Territory. “A democratically elected government works for the welfare and betterment of the people, and whenever a genuine and reasonable demand is placed before the government, it is mandatory on its part to oblige the people. This is the quintessence and foundation of Indian democracy,” he said. He said that recruitment for Group ‘C’ posts like police constable was within the ambit and purview of the cadre controlling authority of the respective Union Territory government. It is only in the matter of recruitment for Group ‘A’ and ‘B’ posts, depending on the pay scale, that the Union Territory government refers and consults the UPSC for consideration. In the present case of Group ‘C’ constable, the managing department is the Police Department headed by the Director General of Police (DGP) and the Cadre Controlling Authority is the Chief Secretary. The DGP has approved the relaxation in age and moved the file to the Chief Secretary, who in turn has endorsed the proposal, which was also ratified by the Cabinet. Therefore, the proposal of the Government of Puducherry to relax the age limit is perfectly in order and in conformity with the Indian convention. Hence, the Ministry should uphold the decision of the Cabinet of the Union Territory of Puducherry and thereby send a positive signal that the decision of an elected government in public interest is supreme and not subordinate to a person who is not elected by the people, he said.

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