Reservation for differently-abled: Posts must be filled; applies to all aided schools, says Supreme Court

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court has maintained that there will be no compromise on the reservation for postings under the differently-abled category in aided schools in Kerala. The court had directed the state government to approve the appointments since 2021 of teachers and non-teaching staff who are not in the differently-abled category in aided schools under the NSS. The court's strict stance on differently-abled reservation became clear when the copy of the March 4 verdict was released the other day.

Appointments to differently-abled posts in aided schools should be made as soon as possible. The state government should take a decision as soon as the managements submit their recommendations for approval. This order is applicable not only to Nair Service Society but also to all similar institutions. The verdict was given by a bench comprising Justices B.R. Gavai and Augustine George Masih. The Kerala High Court had not taken a final decision in the case related to differently-abled reservations.

The circular issued by the state government in November 2021 to ensure that postings under the differently-abled category in aided schools had reached the court. The circular had clarified that appointments in other categories would be accepted only after the reservation for the differently-abled category was properly implemented. The government had taken a stand last December that it would issue a new circular with clarification following a petition by managements and teachers' associations.