Shillong: The All Khasi Hills Achik Joint Action Committee is pushing back against government hiring rules. They want the state to drop a requirement that forces job seekers to pass a local language test for District Selection Committee positions. The committee says this policy hurts Garo candidates who have lived in the Khasi and Jaintia Hills for generations. It creates an unfair barrier for qualified locals.
On Thursday, the group handed a memorandum to Chief Secretary Dr. Shakil P. Ahammed. The protest targets a July 24, 2023, order that mandates proficiency in the local language of the district where a person applies for a job. The group argues this contradicts the state's own reservation policies. They want the government to let candidates choose between Khasi or Garo instead.
The memorandum cites the Meghalaya Official Languages Ordinance from April 27, which lists English, Khasi, and Garo as official tongues. The committee believes these languages hold equal status across the state. "The recognition of Khasi and Garo as official languages should be considered separately from the requirement for candidates to qualify in the local language of a particular district," the group stated. They want the government to link language skills to specific job duties rather than just geography.
The committee is asking for a formal review. They also requested that the state pause the current language rules while they sort out the details. They claim this fix will protect the rights of all communities while keeping recruitment fair under Article 16 of the Constitution.
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