The Delhi High Court has asked the Delhi Government to ensure that the mandate of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016 is followed by allotting 5% reservation for disabled candidates in all educational institutions.
A Bench of Chief Justice Satish Chandra Sharma and Justice Saurabh Banerjee asked Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University here to reserve seats for disabled persons as per the law.
The order came on a public interest litigation (PIL) plea by non-governmental organisation Justice For All, which alleged that the university was not providing 5% reservation following the provisions of the Act.
The court said the Delhi Government and the university “shall make all possible endeavour for filling up the seats meant for specially-abled persons by providing reservation to all categories of specially-abled persons”.
“The university, as well as the State Government, are directed to ensure that in all educational institutions, the statutory provisions governing the field under the RPWD Act are followed and 5 per cent reservation is provided to specially-abled persons,” the court said in its recent order.
In May, the High Court passed an interim order directing the university to provide reservations to disabled candidates for admission in the current academic session.
The petitioner had said that the university was providing 3% quota to the candidates instead of the mandated 5%. It subsequently moved a contempt application and alleged that the interim order was not being implemented.
The High Court, however, closed the proceedings after the university filed an affidavit and “categorically stated” that it was providing 5% reservation.
