'Vet entire process': Madurai MP alleges bias against Tamil, ST candidates in KV recruitment

NEW DELHI: Member of Parliament S Venkatesan has asked union education minister Dharmendra Pradhan to set up an enquiry against alleged “discrimination” in recruitment process by the Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan. KV Sangathan released a list of candidates shortlisted for interview under direct recruitment on April 11. The computer-based Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan Recruitment Examination for the principal candidates was held on February 8 and interviews will be conducted between May 1 and June 27, 2023.

Venkatesan, a representative of Madurai constituency in Tamil Nadu, has alleged that the KV Sangathan has not shortlisted a single candidate from Tamil Nadu for interview in the recently declared list of candidates for the post of principal and assistant commissioner.

In his letter addressed to Pradhan, Venkatesan said he was “shocked” to find no candidate from Tamil Nadu qualified.

Out of a total of 957 selected, 784 candidates have qualified to appear for the interview for the position of principal and 173 have been shortlisted for the post of assistant commissioner. However, the list does not include candidates from Tamil Nadu, the Venkatesan alleged. “I could not find any Tamilian in both the lists. This is utter discrimination and raises suspicion about the credibility of the recruitment process itself,” he wrote. "The examinations should be subject to complete review," Venkatesan posted on social media.

Of the 957 candidates shortlisted for interview in the examinations of Kendriya Vidyalaya's principals and assistant commissioners, not even one candidate is Tamil.
This is a blatant injustice that raises a pertinent question about the credibility of the appointments.1/2 pic.twitter.com/RQi9LMFv7i

— Su Venkatesan MP (@SuVe4Madurai) April 26, 2023

Kendriya Vidyalaya Recruitment: SC, ST seats adjusted

Venkatesan further alleged in his letter that merit candidates who belong to reserved category have been “adjusted against reserved vacancies” in the KVS recruitment. The MP wrote that among the 58 Scheduled Tribe candidates who were selected for the post of principal, 28 candidates were Meena. However, there are no Meena candidates in the unreserved category list. The Meenas are classified as Scheduled Tribes in the central list and are thus eligible for reservation.

“Unfortunately names reveal their social identities in our Indian society. This is just a glaring example. If merit candidates belonging to reserved category have been adjusted towards reservation points, it is violation of principles of reservation policy and unconstitutional also. KV Sangathan has to come out with details,” Venkatesan wrote.

The MP has asked the education minister, Dharmendra Pradhan, to vet the entire KV recruitment process before the results are announced. “I would request you to intervene and arrange to vet the entire process of recruitment before publication of results through proper mechanism and ensure justice to candidates of Tamil Nadu as well as candidates belonging to OBC, SC, ST categories upholding principles of reservation.”