Guwahati, Jan. 17: The Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) unit of the All-India Railway Protection Force (RPF) Association has demanded the scrapping of a standing order from the RPF, which gives more weight to a candidate's height to ensure their recruitment into the force.

In a memorandum that was submitted to 10 MPs who are representing the constituencies under the NFR jurisdiction, the association today claimed that the standing order was discriminatory against applicants from the Northeast, who were comparatively shorter in height than their counterparts from other parts of the country.

The general secretary of the association, Bimal Chandra Das, told The Telegraph today that the standing order number 85, issued by the RPF in March 2008, gives more weightage to the height of the candidate.

As a result of this standing order, able applicants from the Northeast were losing out to taller candidates from other parts of the country.

The RPF Rules, 1987, prescribe a minimum height of 165cm for a candidate to be selected a constable or sub-inspector of the RPF.

The general secretary added that the standing order, contrary to the RPF Rules, 1987, provides bonus marks for the male and female candidates who are taller than 178cm and 165cm in height respectively.

He said the standing order should be revoked in the interest of the unemployed youths of the region.