Team Herald
PANJIM: The Goa Human Rights Commission (GHRC) has recommended the Directorate of Social Welfare issue instructions regarding reservation in promotion to government employees with benchmark disabilities, as provided in Section 34 of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016, within the next three months.
Vishant S Nagvekar, a Person with Disability (PwD), had filed a complaint before the Commission for issuing an advisory for granting reservations in promotions to government employees with benchmark disabilities as stipulated vide the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016. He complained that the Goa government had not made reservations for promotions for persons with disabilities (PwDs).
In its reply, the Directorate of Social Welfare agreed that there is a stipulated provision for a four per cent reservation for Persons with Disabilities in direct recruitment, but the Office Memorandum was silent regarding promotions to PwDs.
It further stated that the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, Department of Personnel and Training, New Delhi had informed the Goa government that the matter was sub-judice before the Supreme Court and once they receive the guidelines regarding reservation in promotions issued from the Union Ministry, the Goa government will adopt and implement the same in the State.
Vishesh Kulkarni, a member of the Legal Aid Cell of V M Salgaocar College of Law, submitted that the Goa government vide Office Memorandum dated August 8, 2018, had stipulated provision of four per cent reservation to PwDs in direct recruitment.
He referred to several Supreme Court judgments in respect of the reservation in promotions to persons with benchmark disabilities and submitted that the reply of the respondent that the matter is pending before the Supreme Court is incorrect as the miscellaneous application filed before the Supreme Court has already been decided.
The Commission agreed with the submissions made on behalf of the complainant that the Apex Court had directed to issue instructions regarding reservation in promotion, as provided in Section 34 of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016.
