IN THE HIGH COURT OF HIMACHAL PRADESH, SHIMLA CWP No.2677 of 2011 Date of decision: 30.8.2011 Ramesh …Petitioner Versus H.P. Subordinate Services Selection Board …Respondents Coram The Hon’ble Mr. Justice Deepak Gupta, Judge. Whether approved for reporting?1 No For the Petitioners : Sh.P.C. Sharma, Advocate For the Respondent : Mr.Rajesh Kumar, Advocate. Deepak Gupta, J.(Oral) 1. This petition has been filed by an unsuccessful candidate, who could not qualify the test conducted for filling up the post of Accountant by the H.P. Subordinate Services Selection Board, Hamirpur (hereinafter referred to as the Board). 2. The main grievance of the petitioner is that the question paper was in Hindi and therefore the petitioner was put in a disadvantageous position inasmuch as he has always studied in English after 10th class Whether reporters of the local papers may be allowed to see the judgment? Yes 2 and could not comprehend the Hindi questions. 3. It has been urged by Sh.P.C. Sharma, learned counsel for the petitioner that even though Hindi may be the National Language, since the medium of instructions was English the petitioner was denied a reasonable opportunity of attempting the questions since the question paper was set in Hindi and the answers were expected to be in Hindi. He also submits that there is lack of level playing field inasmuch as the petitioner was not treated equally with others. 4. In my view, there is no merit in these contentions. The petitioner was treated like all other candidates. All the candidates attempted one question paper. At the outset, it may be mentioned that the question paper was a multiple choice question paper wherein 200 questions have been set out with four answers to each question. I have personally gone through the question paper and I find that even for a 3 person like me who has not studied Hindi since leaving school, each and every question is intelligible and questions and answers are in simple Hindi language. The petitioner has studied in village schools, obviously where the medium was Hindi and not English. College education in commerce subjects to most students is in English and they are expected to answer the question papers in English. Therefore, all the persons from Himachal were on the same footing. The questions which this Court has gone through do not require any special knowledge of Hindi language. Some of the questions are in the field of commerce, some are in the field of general knowledge. I fail to understand how could knowledge or lack of knowledge of Hindi affect the chances of the petitioner. 5. Hindi is the National language and each one of us is expected to have basic knowledge of our National language. In this part of the Country Hindi is also the mother tongue. It is 4 also the official language and office correspondence is expected to be done in Hindi. Therefore, the presumption of the petitioner that he expected that the question paper would be set in English was a total misconception in his mind and he can take no advantage of this. 6. In view of the above discussion, I find no merit in the petition which is accordingly dismissed. No costs. August 30, 2011 ( Deepak Gupta ), PV Judge