Sri Vijaya Puram, Aug 11: Shri D. Ayyappan, Secretary, CPI (M) A & N State Organising Committee along with a group of women candidates for the posts of Mazdoor in the Forest Department met the PCCF, A & N Islands today (11.08.2026) at Van Sadan, Haddo and submitted a letter urging him to review the method of selection published by the DFO, South Andaman & DFO, Middle Andaman for recruitment for the posts of Mazdoor and formulate new selection method in accordance with the provisions contained in the Recruitment Rules for the posts of Mazdoors published in 2010 in order to render justice to hundreds of women candidates who applied for the posts of Mazdoors in various Divisions of Forest Department.
Referring to the recently concluded recruitment for the posts of Mazdoors in the Nicobars Division, Campbell Bay, CPI (M) Secretary in his letter stated that the DFO, Nicobars Division just before the start of the recruitment process, formulated and published a “Mode of Selection” in which the element of Physical Test was introduced for the first time, even though no such provision exist in the Recruitment Rules for the posts of Mazdoor. As per the said Mode of Selection, a 3-level physical test was introduced. The Level-1 and Level 2 are qualifying in nature while the final selection was made only based on the Level-3 test. CPI (M) Secretary pointed out that while in the Level-1 and Level-2 physical tests, separate standards were prescribed for male and female candidates, in the Level-3 final test of 500-metre weight-carrying run with 30Kg for male and 20 Kg for female, there was no provision for a reduced distance for female candidates and the female candidates were also required to run 500 mtrs like their male counterparts. The selection of candidates was based only on the Level-3 physical test which is illegal and arbitrary. He further stated in the letter that when the results of the tests were published, it was noticed that not even a single female candidate was selected. All the 35 selected candidates were male candidates.
Ayyappan told the PCCF that such a situation of not selecting even a single female candidate arose due to the arbitrary and illegal action on the part of the DFO Campbell Bay to introduce the physical test and not conducting the mandatory trade test as provided in the RR for the posts of Mazdoor. CPI (M) Secretary said that the administrative authorities cannot deviate from the provisions of Recruitment Rules to the disadvantage of women candidates.
CPI (M) Secretary strongly condemned this action on the part of the DFO Nicobars Division, Campbell Bay and said that this is a sheer discrimination towards the women candidates at a time when the Government of India is always talking about women empowerment in the country.
CPI (M) Secretary told the PCCF that in the vacancy notice published recently for recruitment of Mazdoors in the Forest Divisions in South Andaman District and North & Middle Andaman district, it was noticed that the same criteria which was followed by Nicobars Division, Campbell Bay will be followed. CPI (M) Secretary further brought to the notice of the PCCF the apprehension of female candidates that the discrimination meted out to female candidates in the Nicobars Division will be repeated in the forthcoming recruitment process also.