High Court Seeks Response From Punjab Govt On Plea To Reserve Seats In Promotions For Disabled Govt Employees

The Punjab and Haryana High Court has sought response from the Punjab Government on Public Interest Litigation (PIL) seeking reservation in promotion for Group A, B, C, D employees` as per Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016.

Chief Justice Sheel Nagu and Justice Anil Kshetarpal issued notice of motion to the Punjab Government.

Divyang Employees Association filed the PIL claiming that various provisions of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016 are not implemented in its letter and spirit.

It also stated that since long there is no regular appointment of Disability Commissioner in the State in terms of Sections 79 of the 2016 Act and the Grievance Redressal Officers has not been appointed in each government establishment despite the provision of Section 23 of the Act mandating the same. 

4% reservation for Disabled persons as mandated by the Rights of Persons with Disability Act as well as the decision as rendered by the Supreme Court is not being followed by all the departments uniformly, it added.

An advertisement was issued by the Public Service Commission Punjab in 2022 regarding recruitment  of 21 posts of PCS Register A-Il from the registered staff, in which, no rightful reservation was given to the disabled but the Haryana Government reserved a post for disabled candidate for the same post, submitted the petition.

The matter is listed for September 23, for further consideration.

Mr. Ranjivan Singh, Advocate and Mr. Risham Raag Singh, Advocate, for the petitioner.

Mr. Salil Sabhlok, Senior Deputy Advocate General, Punjab.

Divyang Employees Association, Patiala v. State of Punjab and others

Click here to read/download the order