Lagatar24 Desk
New Delhi, March 25: The Supreme Court on Friday issued an interim order allowing physically disabled people who have passed the civil service exam to apply provisionally to the Union Public Service Commission for selection to the Indian Police Service, Indian Railways Protection Force Service, and Delhi, Daman and Diu, Dadra and Nagar Haveli, Andaman and Nicobar Islands and Lakshadweep Police Service (DANIPS).
The interim decision was issued by a bench of Justice AM Khanwilkar and Abhay S Oka in response to a writ suit submitted by the NGO National Platform for the Rights of the Disabled, which challenged the blanket exclusion of disabled individuals from these services.
“Those successful in written exams can submit hard copies with these choices to UPSC Secretary-General by April 1,” said the court.
The Court ordered the petitioners and other similarly placed petitioners to file their applications physically or by courier by April 1. The apex court had listed the matter for further hearing on April 18.
The Court was hearing a petition challenging a government notification exempting persons with disabilities (PwDs) from receiving reservation in the Indian Police Service, Indian Railways Protection Force Service, and Delhi, Daman & Diu, Dadra and Nagar Haveli, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, and Lakshadweep Police Service (DANIPS).
The petitioner is seeking to have a Notification dated August 18, 2021 quashed because it offers PwDs a blanket exemption from reservation in the IPS, DANIPS, and IRPFS.
The petitioner wants the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities reserve adequate positions in the IPS, DANIPS, and IRPFS for people with disabilities.
