JAGJIT SINGH Vs. STATE OF PUNJAB

JUDGEMENT

(1.) THE petitioners have sought a mandate to the respondents to appoint them against the vacancies of Lecturers reserved for the blind in the Education Department under Articles 226/227 of the Constitution of India.

(2.) THE undisputed facts, briefly are :-The petitioners are qualified for the post of Lecturer in different subjects. The State Government requisitioned the names of candidates through Employment Exchange to fill up 596 posts of Lecturers in different subjects in Government Schools in the State of Punjab. The Punjab Government issued instructions vide letter No. 10/23/w-Ed/ 10283, dated November 24, 1982 providing for the reservation of vacancies for the physically handicapped persons in class III and Class IV services of the State to be filled by direct recruitment. These instructions provided for 1 per cent posts for the blind. The Employment Exchange sponsored names of 5 blind persons, including the petitioners. The petitioners were called for interview, but the election Committee did not select any blind person persumably thinking that no reservation had been provided for the blind. Selection was made put of the candidates belonging to other reserved categories.

(3.) IN response to the notice of motion issued by this Court, written statement has been filed on behalf of the Chairman, Departmental Selection Committee and Circle Education Officer, Jalandhar. It is stated therein that the Selection Committee found 2 blind candidates suitable for appointment and selected them. It is admitted that in the first list, no name from amongst the blind candidate was recommended. However, when a demand was specifically made by the State Government for submission of further recommendations, waiting list was prepared in which two names of blind candidates were recommended for appointment, namely, Smt. Taran Kaur and Mamta Batt.