MADURAI: The Madras High Court on Thursday restrained the Director of Medical Services from filling up three per cent of vacancies for the post of physiotherapists (Grade II) in Government hospitals.
Justice N. Paul Vasanthakumar granted the interim injunction on a writ petition which claimed that the State Government had failed to earmark the reservation for physically challenged persons in the recent drive to fill up vacancies. He also ordered notice to the Health Secretary and the Director returnable by two weeks.
The petitioner, B. Ameer Sulthan of Madurai, said that he was afflicted with polio and suffered 50 per cent disability. He completed Bachelor of Physiotherapy course in 1995 and registered with the Professional and Executive Employment Office in Chennai under the special category for physically challenged.
Apathy in recruitment process
Stating that the Government had appointed scores of physiotherapists during the recruitment drives conducted in 1989, 1995 and 2002, he claimed that not even a single physically challenged person was appointed till date. The apathy continued even in the recruitment process held this year despite making specific representations to the authorities concerned, he added.
The petitioner’s counsel, M. Ajmal Khan, contended that the State was duty bound to reserve three per cent of vacancies in accordance with Section 33 of the Persons with Disabilities (Equal Opportunities, Protection of Rights and Full Participation) Act, 1995. It is not equitable to deny reservation in jobs especially when the physically challenged are accorded the benefit in securing admission into physiotherapy courses, he said.
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