By TwoCircles.net Staff Reporter,
Mumbai: Muslim youths aspiring for a government job in Maharashtra are unhappy with the state revenue department’s decision of holding written examination for the 900-odd posts of ‘Talathi’ on July 19, the date that corresponds to the day of Eid-ul-Fitr.
The Maharashtra State Revenue Department has recently published the Talathi Recruitment Notice 2015 for filling 887 talathi posts for all districts of Maharashtra. The exam will be held on July 19 between 2.00 pm to 4.00 pm.
Muslims observe fasts during the month of Ramadan and, after completion of Ramadan, would celebrate Eid-ul-Fitr on July 18 or July 19. Eid is decided upon seeing the moon crescent on 29th of Ramadan. Therefore, if the moon is not sighted in Maharahtra on July 17, then Muslims will celebrate Eid on July 19.
File photo for representation purpose
However, the state government’s Holiday List shows July 18 as Eid-ul-Fitr holiday.
The aspiring youths from the community are discontented over government choosing Eid day for written exam for the various posts of Talathis.
TwoCircles.net spoke with some aspiring Muslim candidates. Anees Khan said, “How will it be possible for us to appear for exam on Eid day. It seems government specifically wanted Muslim candidates not to appear for the exam and hence it selected this very date.”
Another candidate Sajid Shaikh says, “It is in public knowledge that Muslims festivals are decided upon moon sighting and hence there is always a contingency of one day in finalizing the Eid day every year before drawing the calendar year holidays. Government cannot be alien to this.”
“I tried to call revenue department to register my protest with the selection of date but was forwarded to different desks to talk on the matter. I could not talk to find the right authority to speak to,” said Muhammad Taher.
When TwoCircles.net tried to reach the official concerned, even after multiple attempts, the revenue department did not provide satisfactory answer for the query. Finally, when TCN reached the official concerned Madhav Veer, he said he will not be able to answer the query right away as “he was busy” and asked to call two days later.
The Talathi recruitment 2015 notification has been issued for following districts: Ahmednagar, Akola, Amravati, Aurangabad, Beed, Bhandara, Buldhana, Chandrapur, Dhule, Gadchiroli, Gondia, Hingoli, Jalgaon, Jalna, Kolhapur, Latur, Mumbai, Nagpur, Nanded, Nandurbar, Nashik, Osmanabad, Palghar, Parbhani, Pune, Raigad, Ratnagiri, Sangli, Satara, Sindhudurg, Solapur, Thane, Wardha, Washim and Yavatmal.