Reservation to Persons with Disabilities; first priority should be given to visually challenged: HC

KOCHI: The High Court has directed that the visually challenged people should be given first consideration for appointment to the posts reserved for the differently-abled. The court also stated that hearing impaired and immobile persons should be considered only in the absence of such applicants. Justice Devan Ramachandran's directive was on petitions filed by the college manager and a candidate appointed in the general category against the order of State Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities to consider a differently-abled woman for the appointment of Assistant professor in Sunniya Arabic College, Chennamangallur, Kozhikode.

According to the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act,2016 the visually challenged are given first priority. If they are not present, the law states that the hearing impaired and immobile persons should be considered after issuing notification again. The High Court quashed the appointment order of the Commissioner and directed to take a decision within four months after listening to the concerned parties.