Quota for differently-abled persons: HC asks Centre to respond

Irked over non-filing of response, the Delhi High Court today asked the Centre to file a report on implementation of the apex court’s directions to identify the vacancies and provide three per cent quota in government jobs for differently-abled persons.

“The Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) seeks time to file the status report. If the status report is not filed within two weeks, then the Secretary, DoPT, will have to appear in person on the next date of hearing,” a bench comprising Chief Justice G Rohini and Justice Pradeep Nandrajog said.

The court, which had granted the last opportunity to DoPT for filing the report on March 12, has posted the matter for hearing on May 21.

The bench was hearing a PIL, filed by National Federation of Blind in 2006, seeking implementation of earlier directions issued by the High Court and the apex court on providing quota to differently-abled, including visually-impaired, persons.

The apex court had on October 8 last year asked the Centre and state governments to provide 3 per cent quota in jobs to disabled persons in their departments, firms and PSUs, observing that it was an “alarming reality” that they are unemployed due to social and practical barriers.

Computation of reservation — Implementation of SC Judgement : DoPT’s reminder to furnish data on vacancies