Delhi High Court Seeks Govt’s Response on Failure to Fill Up Vacant Posts in School for Visually Impaired

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Synopsis

The Court expressed dissatisfaction on the non-compliance of its order dated 28th August 2019 whereby the Delhi Government was directed to fill up the vacancies for the posts of Principal; trained graduate, post-graduate and primary teachers and also to provide hostel facilities to the newly admitted students.

The Delhi High Court on Thursday issued notice to the Delhi Government in an application moved in a 2018 petition filed by the National Federation of the Blind seeking appointments for the posts of Principal, Vice Principal and graduate/post-graduate teachers in a school meant for visually impaired persons.

The posts have been lying vacant for approximately last eleven years.

Senior Advocate Santosh Kumar Rungta, who appeared for the petitioners, stated that despite the Court’s order in August 2019 whereby the Secretary, Social Welfare Department was directed that necessary requisitions for appointment for the vacant posts be sent within the time frame provided and the vacancies be filled up at the earliest, the positions still remain unfilled. A proper hostel facility, as directed by the Court, has also not been provided to the students, it was stated.

It is pertinent to note that vide its order dated 28th August 2019, the Delhi High Court had taken note of the vacant posts of teaching and administrative staff and lack of proper hostel facilities for the students in Govt. Senior Secondary School for Blind Boys, Delhi. The Court had directed the Secretary, Department of Social Welfare that the requisition for the appointment for the post of Principal be sent to the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) within a period of two weeks and that the same for appointment of teachers be sent to the Delhi Subordinate Services Selection Board (DSSSB) within a period of four weeks. The Court had directed DSSSB that in case any requisition was already made by the Secretary for the appointment of trained graduate, post-graduate and primary teachers, the recruitment process be started immediately.

The Court had also directed the Secretary to provide hostel facilities to the newly admitted students. “As the head of the department, he should know the importance of providing hostel facilities to these students who are visually impaired, as their chances of meeting with an accident or suffering from any other injury are much higher. It is the constitutional duty of the respondent state authority to provide hostel facilities immediately to those newly admitted students,” the Court had remarked.

The matter is to be taken up next on July 29.

Case Title: National Federation of the Blind Vs. & GNCT of Delhi & Ors.