the goan I network
PANAJI
The Bombay High Court at Goa directed taken serious cognizance of the the state government having allegedly failed maintain a 1% reservation for the visually impaired as contemplated under Section 33 of The Persons with Disabilities (Equal Opportunities, Protection of Rights and Full Participation) Act, 1995 and has asked the Chief Secretary to respond by the first week of April.
The order came after a 100% visually impaired petitioner Gabriella de Melo filed a petition before the High Court asking the Court to direct the government to appoint her to any of the vacant posts of junior scale officer in the Goa Civil Services reserved for persons with disabilities.
“From 11 December 2017, by various orders we had called upon the State to give us particulars as regards 1% reservation for visually impaired as contemplated under Section 33 of The Persons with Disabilities (Equal Opportunities, Protection of Rights and Full Participation) Act, 1995. Till date, though various affidavits have been filed, we are not getting a clear answer to this query. In the span of last two days, we have heard the matter twice, but the issue is not being clarified,” a bench of Justice N M Jamdar and Prithviraj Chavan recorded.
“The Apex Court has directed the strict compliance of the provisions of the Act of 1995. In para 55(3), the Apex Court has specified that the failure of the authorities to comply with the directions is to be treated as non-obedience and such persons are to be proceeded (against) with a departmental inquiry against the defaulter. In spite of such a mandate from the Apex Court and statutory directions, till date we are not informed as to whether the State has earmarked 1% vacancies in the services and whether these vacancies have been filled up,” the court noted.
“By the next date the affidavit of a responsible officer will be filed addressing the above issue,” the court said.
THE CASE
100% visually impaired petitioner Gabriella de Melo files a petition before the High Court
She seeks appointment to any of the vacant posts reserved for persons with disabilities
COURT STRICTURE
From 11 December 2017, by various orders we had called upon the State to give us particulars as regards 1% reservation for visually impaired
Till date, though various affidavits have been filed, we are not getting a clear answer to this query
In the span of last two days, we have heard the matter twice, but the issue is not being clarified
