Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment, Through its Secretary,                 Respondant No. 1
Shastri Bhawan,
New Delhi-110001.

Delhi Subordinate Services Selection Board, Through its Secretary,             Respondant No. 2
FC-18, Institutional Area, Karkardooma, Delhi-110092.

Services Department, Through its Secretary,                                                      Respondant No. 3
Government of NCT of Delhi,
Delhi Secretariat Complex,
I. P. Estate, New Delhi-110002.

Directorate of Education, Through its Director,                                                   Respondant No. 4
Government of NCT of Delhi.
Oid Secretariat, Delhi.

Municipal Corporations of Delhi (North), Through its Commissioner,           Respondant No. 5
Dr. S.P.M. Civic Centre, Minto Road,
New Delhi-110002.

Municipal Corporations of Delhi (South), Through its Commissioner,          Respondant No. 6
Dr. S.P.M. Civic Centre, Minto Road,
New Delhi-110002.

Municipal Corporations of Delhi (East) Through its Commissioner,              Respondant No. 7
Dr. S.P.M. Civic Centre, Minto Road, New Delhi-110002.

New Delhi Municipal Council, Through its Secretary,                                        Respondant No. 8
Palika Kendra,
Parliament Street,
New Delhi-110001.
 
Maulana Azad Institute of Dental Sciences, Through its Registrar,               Respondant No. 9
Maulana Azad Medical College Campus,
Bahadur Shah Zafar Marg,
New Delhi-110002.
 
Health & Family Welfare Department,                                                                 Respondant No. 10
Through its Secretary,
Govt, of NCT of Delhi,
9^th Level, A-Wing,
I P. Extension,
Delhi Secretariat,
New Delhi-110002.
 
Date of hearing : 12.05.2014
 
Present:

 ORDER

MAY08, 2014.

2. In compliance to the above directions of the Hon’ble High Court of Delhi, the representatives of Score Foundation and Ail India Confederation of Blind submitted a copy each of the above mentioned Writ Petitions and appeared at 11.00 A.M. on 12,05.2014. Score Foundation also submitted a copy of the reply dated 20.03.2014 to its Writ Petition filed by DSSSB.

3. While both the complaints have sought reservation of vacancies for persons with blindness and low vision in the posts of Special Educator and TGT (Computer Science) advertised by DSSSB on behalf of Municipal Corporation of Delhi and Directorate of Education, NCT of Delhi respectively, Score Foundation has also sought reservation of vacancies for the persons with blindness and low vision in the posts of Special Education Teacher in Directorate of Education, Assistant Teacher (Primary) in NDMC, Stenographer and LDC in Maulana Azad Institute of Dental Sciences (MAIDS) and Telephone Operator in Health & Family Welfare Department, Govt, of NCT of Delhi. The complainants alleged that an advertisement No. 01/14 was published by the DSSSB on behalf of various Departments/autonomous bodies under the Government of NCT of Delhi including Directorate of Education, MCD, NDMC, MAIDS and Health & Family Welfare Department. However, no reservation for persons with blindness and low vision was provided in the identified posts which was in contravention to section 33 of the Persons with Disabilities (Equal Opportunities, Protection of Rights and Full Participation) Act, 1995, hereinafter referred to as the Act and the instructions issued by DoP&T .

4. The details of posts in which reservation to persons with blindness and low vision was not provided in the advertisement No.01/2014 of DSSSB are given below:-

S.No	Name of the post	No. of the vacancies	Whether identified for persons with blindness and low vision	Serial No. in the list of identified post(2013)
1.	Special Education Teacher	Directorate of Education, GNCT of Delhi	670	S.No.82
2.	TGT ( Computer science )	Directorate of Education, GNCT of Delhi	2026	S.No .71
3.	Special Educator	Municipal Corporation of Delhi	1692	S.No 82
4.	Assistant Teacher ( Primary )	NDMC	88	S.No. 76 and 77*
5.	Stenographer	MAIDS	4	S.No 125, 126, 131
6.	Lower Divisional Clerk	MAIDS	14	S.No. 987
7.	Telephone Operator	Health & family welfare Deptt., GNCT of Delhi	12	S.No. 226,227,228

5. Department of Disability Affairs, Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment had issued the list of identified posts for persons with disabilities vide Notification No.16-15/2010-DD.Ill dated
29.07.2013   under Section 32 of the Act, which provides as under:-
"32. Appropriate Government shall -

(All the 7 posts in question stand identified for persons with blindness and low vision.}

6. Section 33 of the Act provides, “Every appropriate Government shall appoint in every establishment such percent-age of vacancies not less than three per cent, for persons or class of persons with disability of which one per cent each shall be reserved foi persons suffering from -

Provided, that the appropriate Government may, having regard to the type of work carried on in any department or establishment, by notification subject to such conditions, if any, as may be specified in such notification, exempt any establishment from the provisions of this section."

7. The representatives from Directorate of Education, GNCTD, Municipal Corporations of Delhi and DSSSB appeared at 11.00 A.M. on 12.05.2014 and made their submissions.
 
8. Appearing on behalf of Score Foundation, the Ld Counsel, Shri Pankaj Sinha submitted that as per the Notification dated 29.07.2013 issued by the Department of Disability Affairs, Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment with respect to identification of posts to be held by persons with disabilities, all teaching posts of the Senior Secondary Schools and Middle Schools are identified for persons with disabilities at sr. no. 71 and 74 respectively for persons with blindness and persons with low vision which fact implies that the visually impaired people are found competent to teach Computer Science to the students studying in Middle Schools and Secondary Schools.

9. Representing All India Confederation of the Blind (Complainant No. 1), Dr. Anil Aneja and Shri Deepesh Aneja, the Ld. Counsel submitted that the posts of Lecturer, Assistant Professor, Reader and Professor in Computer Science have been identified for persons with blindness and low vision at Sr. No.305 and the post of Higher Secondary and Secondary School Teachers for all subjects have been identified for persons with blindness and low vision at Sr. No.71 which also include the Computer Science.

10. Dr. Madhu Teotia, Additional Director (Education), Directorate of Education, GNCT of Delhi submitted that Directorate of Education had sought clarification from Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, who vide their letter dated 07.05.2014 clarified that as per Notification No. 16- 15/2010-DD-lll dated 29.07.2013, the post of Special Education Teacher is suitable for persons with blindness and low vision Accordingly, vide DOE’s letter dated 09.05.2014, DSSSB has been requested that a corrigendum inviting applications for persons with blindness and low vision may be issued reserving 13 vacancies for persons with locomotor disability and 14 vacancies for persons with blindness and low vision. As regards the TGT (Computer Science), Department of Disability Affairs has stated that at S No. 71 in the list of Group C posts, the post of Higher Secondary and Secondary School Teacher (for all subjects arts, social science, humanities, music etc.) has been identified for persons with blindness and low vision also. However, the working conditions/remarks mentioned against these posts indicate that some of the subjects like arts, biology, science may require colour identification The incumbent should be considered with aids and appliances. This implies that barring the posts of teachers which require visual and colour identification while teaching, the post of other teachers are identified for persons with visual impairment including blindness and low vision. It is also stated therein that the list of posts identified vide the above stated notification dated 29.07.2013 is not exhaustive. The Govt, of NCT of Delhi may further supplement the list keeping in view of the requirement of the post.

11. She further stated that in the light of the submission of the complainants that the posts of Lecturer, Reader and Professor in Computer Science have been identified for persons with blindness and low vision, among other disabilities, the issue would be examined and this Court would be apprised of the decision of the competent authority by 5.00 p.m. on 12.05.2014 itself.

12. The representative of South Delhi Municipal Corporation, Education Department :HQ submitted a copy of letter dated 05.05.2014 addressed to Deputy Secretary (P&P), Delhi Subordinate Services Selection Board. The said letter states that the reserved vacancies for persons with disabilities for the post of Special Educator were forwarded on 12.12.2013 in pursuance of the jobs identified in 2007 issued by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment.

As the said notification did not indicate the post suitable for persons with visual impairment, no vacancy'was reserved for persons'with visual impairment. It further says that in the light of the fact that Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment issued subsequent Notification No. 16-15/2010- DD-lll dated 29.07.2013 as per which the post of Special Educator is identified for persons with OA, OL, OAL, BL, B and LV, DSSSB has been requested vide the said letter to make suitable amendment in the Advertisement No. 01/2014 dated 20.01.2014 earmarking 26 posts under OH category and 26 posts under VH category.

13. After hearing out the parties, they were advised to submit, if they so desired, brief Synopses or any relevant paper by 5.00 p.m. on 12.05.2014.

14.  Directorate of Education, Govt, of NCT of Delhi vide letter No. DE.4/1 /417/E-lV/Court Case/2014, received by fax on 12.05.2014, has informed as under:-

“DIRECTORATE OF EDUCATION, GOVT. OF NCT OF DELHI OLD SECRETARIAT; DELHI-110054 (ESTABLISHMENT IV BRANCH)

No. DE.4/1/417/E-IV/Court Case/2014                                                     Dated:

To
The Deputy Chief Commissioner For Persons with Disabilities,
Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment,
6,  Bhagwan Dass Road, New Delhi.

Subject:- WP(C) 1675/2014 titled Score Foundation Vs Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment, Government of India and WP(C) 2848/2014 titled All India Confederation of Blind Vs DSSSB and Ors.

Sir,
Reference proceedings of Hon’ble Court of Chief Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities dated 12.05.2014 in the above stated Court matter.

In the Court, it was brought to the notice of Addl. D.E., Education Department, Govt, of NCT of Delhi that the post of Lecturer (Computer Science) is identified suitable for persons with visual impairment (Blind & Low Vision) by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, GOI.

The Competent Authority was informed that the post of Lecturer (Computer Science) has been identified by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, GOI suitable for VH category, the post of TGT (Computer Science) in Directorate of Education may also be identified suitable for VH category as nature of work of both the posts are more or less similar.

Accordingly, I am directed to inform you that the Competent Authority has granted approval for providing reservation to visually handicapped persons (Blind & Low Vision) for the post of TGT (Computer Science".

This is for your kind information and further necessary action.
Yours faithfully,

15. Smt. Sushma Singh, Deputy Secretary, Department of Health &Fami!y Welfare appeared in this Court on 13.05.2014 at 1.15 P.M. She submitted that the copy of the Order dated 08.05.2014    of the Hon’ble High Court of Delhi was received on 12.05.2014 in the evening and, therefore, neither she nor any other officer from the Department could appear at 11.00 A.M. on 12.05.2014. She also submitted that in the advertisement (Post Code 87/14), the Department had mentioned that the post of Telephone Operator has been identified suitable for persons with disabilities (OA, OL, BL, B and LV). As regards the reasons for not reserving any vacancy for persons with disabilities, she will have to check the records of the Technical Recruitment Cell (TRC) which makes recruitment for various hospitals in G.N.C.T.D. She however, submitted that apparently, the 12 vacancies of Telephone Operator did not fall against the reserved points (1,34,67) for persons with disabilities. If required, necessary action to ensure reservation for persons with disabilities will be taken as per the directions of this Court.

16. AICB submitted its short submissions dated 12.05.2014 through email on 13.05.2014, which are re-produced below:-

“SHORT SUBMISSIONS BY AICB NOTE:IN HEARING HELD ON 12th MAY, 2014 AS PER
THE DIRECTIONS OF THE HON’BLE HIGH COURT IN CASE NO. WP(C) 2848 OF 2014.

1. The Petitioner organization inter alia challenged advertisement No. 1 of 2014 issued by Delhi Subordinate Services Selection Board advertising various posts in autonomous bodies in the NCT, Delhi. The challenge of the petitioner organization pertained to the non- observance of the provisions of Persons with Disabilities Act and subsequent applicable instructions in not providing reservation to the blind and the low vision persons in the said recruitment notice. The posts in reference are that of TGT Computer Science (having 2026 vacancies) and Special Educator (having 1692 vacancies). No reservation has been provided for the visually impaired persons on these two posts despite these posts having been identified by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment in its notification dated 29 July, 2013 (MSJE notification) as being suitable for the visually impaired persons issued as per Section 32 of Persons with Disabilities (Equal Opportunities, Protection of Rights and Full Participation) Act, 1995 The advertisement is contrary to iaw as follows:

 2. The MSJE notification identifies the post of TGT Computer Science at Serial No. 71 and 74 [Teachers All Subjects Higher Secondary, Senior Secondary and Middle School) in Grade C read with Serial No. 305 (Professor, Reader, Lecturer). In this regard, it is submitted that once the post of Professor, Reader, Lecturer is deemed fit for visually impaired persons, therefore, posts of Trained Graduate Teacher would also be seen as identified [Kindly Refer: Clause 4 of 2005 Office Memorandum issued by Department of Personnel and Training],

3. From joint reading of the MSJE notification with DOPT Office Memorandum [Annexure P-2 of AICB Writ Petition], it is dear that the reference to Higher Secondary, Senior Secondary and Middle School Teachers would be covered under the reference of “All Subjects" and “etc." mentioned at Serial No. 71 and 74 of MSJE notification.

4. The MSJE notification identifies the post of Special Educator at Serial No. 82 of Group 'C' posts of the MSJE notification of 29^th July, 2013 as being suitable for the visually impaired.

5. From a bare perusal of the DSSSB advertisement in respect of the posts of Special Educator [Post Code: 147 I 14-1692 Vacancies - 52 reserved for PH (OH)] and TGT Computer Science [Post Code 192 1 14 - 2026 Vacancies - 60 reserved for PH (OH-30 and HH-30)], it is evident that these posts despite having been identified as suitable for visually impaired, have not been reserved for such category of persons. Further, these deficiencies are also noted:

6. The DOPT has issued consolidated instructions in its 2005 OM [See Annexure P-2 of WP 2848 of 2014], whereby, in Clause 4 and 6 the following is set out:

Again in 2014, DOPT issued a OM dated 8.1.2014 in furtherance of the 2014 OM requesting the user department to use to MSJE notification for creating reservation for disable persons [See Annexure P-6 of WP 2848 of 2014]. Moreover, no exemption has been sought by the user departments under proviso to Section 33 of the Act is they sought to exclude these identified posts for the visually impaired persons.
 
7. The petitioner organization had earlier challenged the 2011 notification of DSSSB before the Honourable High Court of Delhi in WP © 3411 of 2012 on same grounds in respect of certain posts identified for the visually impaired but excluded in the DSSSB advertisement. On 1.6.2012, the Honourable High Court was pleased to quash the advertisement holding that when an advertisement is not in accordance with law, it is liable to be quashed [See Annexure P-3 of WP © 2848 of 2014],

8. In view of the above, the Honourable Court of the CCPD is requested to issue appropriate directions pursuant to order dated 8 May, 2014 passed by the Honourable High Court in WP 1675 of 2014 and WP 2848 of 2014 to the user departments and DSSSB to declare the two posts in reference as identified for the blind and the low vision. It is further prayed that the applicable process in respect of the two posts in reference, as commenced through the impugned advertisement no. 1/2014 of DSSSB may be re-opened after providing due reservation to the blind and the low vision. Persons belonging to this disability sub-category must be allowed to submit their applications both in respect of reserved and unreserved vacancies in respect of the two posts in reference before ay further action in respect of the recruitment process commenced through the said impugned advertisement is further undertaken. It is further prayed that this exercise is done in a time- bound manner.

Dr. Anil K. Aneja                                      Deepesh Aneja
Vice President, AICB and Council for the Petitioner respectively.

Date: 12.5.2014 Place; New Delhi"

17. It is observed that there is no dispute about the suitability of the post of Special Education Teacher, Special Educator, Assistant Teacher (Primary). Stenographer, LDC and Telephone Operator for persons with blindness and low vision among other categories of disabilities as reflected in the Notification No. 16-15/2010-DD.IIi dated 29 07.2013 issued by Department of Disability Affairs, Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment.

18. After the clarification given by Department of Disability Affairs, Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment to Directorate of Education, Government of NCT of Delhi vide letter dated
07.05.2014     and the decision in the matter by Directorate of Education, Govt, of NCT of Delhi following the hearing held in this Court on 12.05.2014, it is clear that the post of TGT (Computer Science) is also to be deemed identified as suitable for persons with blindness and low vision in accordance with the Notification dated 29.07.2013 of Department of Disability Affairs, Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment. Hon'ble High Court of Delhi have also observed in para 8 of its order dated 08.05.2014 that the notification issued under Section 32 identifying posts which could be filled up by the persons with disabilities shows that even the persons with blindness and low vision have been found fit to hold teaching posts in schoois pertaining to the discipline of computer science.

19.  Para 6 of DoP&T’s O.M. No.36035/3/2004-Estt(Res) dated 29.12.2005 provides that in the posts which are identified suitable for persons with disabilities, a person with disability cannot be denied the right to compete for appointment against an unreserved vacancy also. Thus a person with disability can be appointed also against an unreserved vacancy provided the post is identified suitable for persons with disability of the relevant category.

20.  In the above view of the matter, Delhi Subordinate Services Selection Board is directed to issue a corrigendum to the Advertisement No. 01/14 reserving 1% of the vacancies for persons with blindness and low vision in the post of Special Education Teacher (670 vacancies) and TGT (Computer Science) (2026 vacancies) in Directorate of Education, Special Educator (1692 vacancies) in the Municipal Corporation of Delhi and in the post of Assistant Teacher (Primary) (88 vacancies) in NDMC in consultation with the concerned Department/organization within two weeks of receipt of this order. The corrigendum should also clearly mention that persons with disabilities including those with blindness and low vision for whom the posts have been identified as suitable, can compete for appointment against unreserved vacancies as well in accordance with Para 6 of Department of Personnel & Training's O.M dated 29 12.2005 referred to above. Maulana Azad Institute of Dental Science and Health & Family Welfare Department are directed to check their records, particularly the 100% vacancy based reservation roster to be maintained for reservation of vacancies for persons with disabilities to see whether any of the advertised vacancies fall against a reserved points for persons with disabilities, namely, point no.1, 34 and 67 of the roster respectively. If so, the said organizations shall intimate the number of vacancies to be reserved for persons with disabilities (blindness or low vision, hearing impairment, locomotor disability or cerebral palsy) to DSSSB so that reserved vacancies for persons with disabilities including for persons with blindness and low vision are included in the corrigendum. Irrespective of any vacancy being reserved for persons with disabilities in the post of Stenographer, LDC and Telephone Operator in MAIDS and Health & Family Welfare Department, the Delhi Subordinate Services Selection Board shall make a mention in the corrigendum that persons with disabilities of relevant category for whom the posts have been identified can apply. A copy of the corrigendum shall be submitted to this Court and to the complainants within a week of its publication.
 
21. The matter stands disposed off with the above directions.