Times of India: Thiruvananthapuram: Friday, June 23, 2017.
Finally,
there seems to be light at the end of the tunnel for the physically handicapped
(PH) candidates who are battling for justice in job postings. In a major
development, Revenue department has reported three vacancies for the post of
deputy collectors to Kerala Public Service Commission (KPSC). It is based on
the Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan's order to the Revenue department to report
the vacancies of three posts of deputy collectors to KPSC by June 20 for
appointment of PH candidates.
"Three
vacancies for the post of deputy collectors has been reported to us by Revenue
department. It is based on the court order and further action will be based on
the court verdict," said an official at KPSC on Thursday.
Now, Revenue
department will submit to Kerala Administrative Tribunal (KAT) that it has
reported three vacancies of deputy collectors post to KPSC. Then based on KAT
ruling to appoint three PH candidates for the post of deputy collectors, KPSC
will have to issue the advice to PH candidates for appointment as deputy
collectors in the state.
Earlier,
though Chief Minister had directed the Revenue department (RD) to report three
vacancies for the post of deputy collectors to KPSC by May end for appointment
of PH candidates, the RD responded saying there are no vacancies and they need
to create supernumerary posts. Following that, the PH candidates whose names
are in the rank list for deputy collectors post had written to the Chief
Minister citing the RTI report which confirms the existence of three vacancies
for the post. The candidates also approached Kerala Administrative Tribunal
(KAT) for justice.
Then, KAT
issued an order on June 9 which states that PSC had reported three vacancies
for the post of deputy collectors for appointment before June 20. With that CM
issues a stern directive to Revenue department to report three vacancies for
deputy collectors post to KPSC before June 20 for appointment of PH candidates.
The CM's
directive was to implement the state government order for appointment of the
disabled in government jobs in the turn of 1.34, 67 as per the Persons with
Disabilities (PWD) Act, based on the Supreme Court directive. It means that in
the 100 point reservation roster, the first, 34th and 67th appointment should
go for the PH candidate. For the deputy collectors post, the first PH vacancy
will go for for the blind and next for orthopedically handicapped.
KPSC has
advised 17 candidates for deputy collectors post between 1997 and 2013, then 16
candidates between 2014 and 2016, so totally 33 candidates have been advised
for deputy collectors post till date. Yet not a single PH candidate had been
posted so far in the state.
An official
at the CM's office told TOI. "Though 68 candidates have been appointed for
the post of deputy collectors including promotional appointments till date, not
a single PH candidate has been posted despite their names in the rank list. To
ensure justice to the disabled, at least three PH candidates should be
appointed for the post of deputy collectors in the turn of 1.33.67 as per the
new government order (GO No.8/17/SJD) issued by the state".
Meanwhile,
KPSC rank list for the deputy collectors post is set to expire on June 30 and
candidates in the rank list expect that it is extended to six more months.