Medical college attendant appointment; Order of Disability Commissioner not implemented 

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: A complaint has been registered regarding the appointment in the post of Attendant Grade-2 in Medical College. As per reports the order of the State Disability Commissioner to provide temporary appointment to the eligible candidate following the reservation of disability in the post of Attendant Grade-2 in the Medical College is not being implemented even after three months. On April 27, Disability Commissioner S H Panchapakesan ordered that M. Harikrishnan, a native of Kumarapuram, should be appointed within 15 days.

Out of 178 appointments made during May-June 2022, including 35 differently-abled persons, Harikrishnan did not get the appointment because he did not follow the reservation system under the Protection of Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016.

When 100 people are appointed, the law requires that 1, 26, 51 and 76 of the roster shall be reserved for persons with benchmark disabilities. Harikrishnan was eligible for appointment in the 76th order. Hospital Development Committee made temporary appointments from the list of 2556 persons provided by the Employment Exchange.

In the hearing conducted by the disability commissioner, the medical college officials stated that they were informed by the employment exchange that only economic and community reservations should be followed. However, the commissioner's order is that Harikrishnan is eligible for appointment.

31-year-old Harikrishnan registered with the Employment Exchange 11 years ago. Harikrishnan has a plus two qualification and belongs to the 60 per cent mentally challenged category.

A fine of up to 5 lakhs can be imposed

According to the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, reservation is given to the visually impaired, hearing impaired, physically challenged and mentally challenged.

If the conditions are violated, a fine of up to five lakhs can be imposed under Section 89.

The Supreme Court has also directed that reservation should not be denied to those who deserve it.

"Harikrishnan deserves the job. No one has the authority to deny reservation to the differently abled'.
-SH Panchapakesan
State Commissioner for Disability