Supreme Court: Speed up hiring of persons with disabilities
In a development likely to have a positive impact on the employment of persons with disabilities, the Government of India recently issued directions to all Government departments, public sector units and government aided autonomous bodies to launch a special recruitment drive to recruit persons with disabilities at all grades and levels. The direction emanated from a petition filed in the Supreme Court of India by the National Federation of the Blind, which stated that whereas the Court in an earlier judgement dated 10 October 2013 had directed the Government of India to fill all vacancies for persons with disabilities in right earnest according to the scheme of reservation in the Persons with Disabilities Act, not much progress had been made in fulfilling the same. The Court, taking notice of the complaint, directed by it’s order dated 28 April 2015 that the period for filling up all such vacancies should be suitably compressed. The Government of India then issued the instructions headlined herein on 22 May 2015, providing a detailed schedule for the recruitment drive to be conducted as detailed below. All stakeholders may take note of the same and maintain a vigil as to the compliance by all Government departments, public sector units and government aided autonomous bodies, so that the directions of the Court are implemented scrupulously.
1. Issue of Instructions by the Ministries /Departments to all appointing authorities under their charge for conduct of the drive – By 15.06.2015
2.Reporting of vacancies to the UPSC / SSC or other concerned recruiting agencies by the concerned Ministries / Departments / appointing authorities, if not already reported – By 15.07.2015
3.Advertisement by the UPSC/SSC/ Other recruiting agencies, if not already done – By 31.8.2015
4.Receipt of applications / nominations by the UPSC/SSC/Other recruiting agencies – By 30.9.2015
5.Holding of interviews / tests etc. by the UPSC/SSC/Other recruiting agencies – By 15.11.2015
6.Information about the selected candidates by the UPSC/SSC/Other Recruiting Agencies to the concerned Ministry/Department/Office – By 30.11.2015
7.Issue of offers of appointment to the selected candidates – By 31.12.2015