21 March 2024 Human Right Law >> Civil & Consumer Law  

The Supreme Court of India, in a suo moto action, has issued interim directions providing a crucial opportunity for visually impaired candidates to participate in the upcoming Madhya Pradesh Judicial Service main examinations. This development follows a letter addressed to the Chief Justice of India by the mother of a visually impaired aspirant, highlighting the potential exclusion of such candidates due to the absence of a specific reservation category for visual impairment in the 2022 recruitment notification.

While reserving final judgment on the issue of reservation, the Court has adopted an equitable approach, ensuring visually impaired candidates with requisite merit are not disadvantaged. The key directives issued by the Court include:

• Eligibility for Participation: Visually impaired candidates who demonstrably attained the minimum qualifying marks in the preliminary examination are permitted to appear for the main examination.
• Application Requirements: These candidates must submit a comprehensive email by March 23rd, 2024, encompassing their roll number from the preliminary exam, a record of their achieved marks, and a duly certified disability certificate fulfilling the benchmark criteria as defined under the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act 2016. The email may also be utilized to request specific accommodations pertaining to lighting arrangements during the main examination.
• Examination Accommodations: The Madhya Pradesh High Court, in adherence to the Court's directions, shall:
• Facilitate the issuance of electronic admit cards via email to eligible visually impaired candidates by March 25th, 2024.
• Permit the utilization of a scribe for each visually impaired candidate during the main examination.
• Grant additional time for exam completion at a rate of 20 minutes per hour of the allocated exam duration.
• Allocate separate examination space to minimize potential disruption for both visually impaired candidates and other examinees.

Conclusion:

The Court has emphasized that participation in the main examination by these candidates shall be subject to the outcome of the present proceedings and will not prejudice the rights or arguments presented by any party involved. The matter has been listed for further hearing on April 15th, 2024. This interim order signifies a commendable step towards fostering inclusivity within the Madhya Pradesh Judicial Service recruitment process. By allowing visually impaired candidates with the necessary qualifications to compete, the Court upholds the principles of equal opportunity and access to justice within the Indian legal system.