Tribunal directive on handicapped candidate

By Our Special Correspondent

CHENNAI, MARCH 9.The State Administrative Tribunal has directed the TN Public Service Commission to permit a visually challenged person to take up the written examination for recruiting assistant public prosecutors this month, with the assistance of a scribe.

Passing interim orders on a petition filed by the applicant to the Commission, the Tribunal Chairman, Mr. Justice S.M. Abdul Wahab, ordered notice to the TNPSC on the main application challenging the validity of the recruitment notification.

In his plea, Mr. B. Veerakumar, said he was a visually handicapped person, practising as an advocate in Cuddalore for the past nine years. He had conducted about 20 trial proceedings. In December last, the TNPSC issued a notification for recruitment of APP grade II posts in the government service. The notification had prescribed the eligibility norms for candidates taking up the written and oral examinations. Three per cent of the 55 posts were to be reserved for physically handicapped persons. One of the eligibility norms, the notification said, was that the candidates should have `standard III vision.' Mr. Veerakumar said he had sent his application with all the relevant documents. He had not received the hall ticket till date for the examination to be held on March 10 and 11.

He apprehended that his application could have been rejected in view of the standard of vision prescribed under the notification. Stating that the TNPSC's action in stopping visually impaired persons for the post of APP was wholly unjustified and discriminatory, and violative of the Persons with Disabilities (Equal opportunities, Protection of Rights, Full Participation) Act, the petition challenged the said notification.

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Section  : Southern States
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