The State government, following issuance of orders both by the Supreme Court and the High Court, has directed its departments to ensure appointment of handicapped persons in class II, III and IV posts by giving them a total of six per cent reservation, official sources said here on Saturday.
The General Administration Department (GAD) has issued instructions to fill the quota for handicapped persons by December 31, 2014. Departmental heads have been strictly warned that they would squarely be held responsible for any non-compliance with the directives of the Supreme Court and the High Court.
Secretary, GAD, Vikassheel, in a letter issued to the additional chief secretaries, principal secretaries, secretaries and departmental heads, has asked them to ensure six per cent reservation in the direct appointment in the Class II, III and IV posts to the handicapped persons, sources informed.
He said that the departments have again been informed that as per the orders of both the Supreme Court and the High court, such posts should be marked, which are reserved for the handicapped persons, according to the provisions of the Handicapped Persons Act. Action has to be taken for filling the vacant posts marked for them, he added.
In the circular, the GAD informed that under Section 33 of the Act, along with the identification of vacancies for the handicapped class as per reservation in each establishment, it has also been provisioned that the Government could give relaxation to any establishment in the Act in view of the type of work being done in such Department or establishment.
The Department has made it clear that out of six per cent reservation for the handicapped persons, two per cent is for visually impaired, two for deaf and two for other categories.
According to the orders of the High Court and the Supreme Court, appointment of handicapped persons should be done on the reserved posts on priority. If the administrative department wants to give relaxation in the provision in any identified post, in view of the type of work, the proposal, with complete propriety, should be submitted to the GAD by May 15.
He said that the GAD has presented affidavits to both the apex courts of adherence of its orders by the end of this year. In order to ensure adherence of orders for appointment in all government departments, semi-government undertakings, local bodies, corporations, boards and commissions, departmental heads have been appointed as nodal officers. They have been instructed to ensure appointments by December 31 by preparing time-bound plans, otherwise, they themselves would be responsible for any negligence.