Madras HC seeks info on drive to hire disabled as teachers

A division bench, comprising Chief Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul and Justice M. Sathyanarayanan, also ordered notice to the state government and Teachers Recruitment Board (TRB) and posted to October 7 further hearing of the PIL filed by the Tamil Nadu Association for the Rights of All Types of Differently Abled and Caregivers.

The PIL sought to quash the notification, dated July 14, 2014, issued by TRB, for the direct recruitment of BT assistant teachers 2012-13. According to the petitioner, the government had issued an order on March 4, acknowledging the presence of 1,107 vacancies meant for persons with special needs which would be filled through a special recruitment drive.

As per section 33 of Persons with Disabilities (Equal Opportunity, Protection of Rights and Full Participation) Act, 1995, the government has to provide not less than 3 per cent reservation in employment opportunities to persons with disabilities. In 2013, the Supreme Court passed an order, reiterating the constitutional duty of governments, validating the legal rights of persons with special needs.

The TRB had not complied with the government’s March 4 G.O. asking for a separate recruitment drive. If the backlog of vacancies is filled up by general candidates this would cause hardship to persons with disabilities needing to earn a living, he added.

Pointing out that the recruitment had already begun, with some even receiving appointment letters, the bench directed the government to file a counter within two weeks, clearly mentioning the special drives undertaken, if any, to fill up the backlog of vacancies of persons with special needs, with a rejoinder to be filed within a week thereafter, the bench added.