SAROJINI VIJAYAN M V Vs. STATE OF KERALA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) Miss. Amrita Priya is a deaf and dump girl. She was a student of the Government Girls' High School, Madayi in Kannur District. She has registered for the S.S.L.C. Examination in March, 1999 and expressed her desire to get exemption from 2nd and 3rd languages in the said examination on the plea that she is a deaf and dumb girl. She had earlier appeared for the S.S.L.C. Examination in March 1997 as well as in March, 1998. She did not claim exemption from writing the second and third languages and consequently the same was not granted. She then approached this Court and filed O.P. No. 1338 of 1999 which was disposed of by this Court permitting her to exercise option or express desire not to study second and third languages and directed the Government to consider the said request in accordance with law.

(2.) Petitioner has now written the S.S.L.C. Examination conducted in March 1999 and expressed her desire for exemption from writing second and third languages. She was informed that the said benefit would be available only to deaf candidates and not the candidate who is deaf and dump. Petitioner has therefore approached this Court seeking a declaration that the exemption for writing the second and third languages should be extended to deaf and dump candidates also and not to deaf persons alone.

(3.) A statement has been filed on behalf of 2nd respondent. Government took up the stand that the benefit available on the basis of Ext. P1 G.O. dated 14-6-1983 and notification dated 23rd September, 1995 would be available only to deaf candidate and not to a deaf and dump candidate. I heard counsel for petitioner Sri. Kaleeswaram Raj as well as learned Government Pleader Sri M.S. Radhakrishnan Nair.