Daijiworld Media Network – New Delhi

New Delhi, Mar 3: The Supreme Court of India on Monday ruled that candidates with disabilities are eligible for appointment to judicial services, emphasizing that no individual should be excluded solely due to physical disabilities. The court stated that indirect discrimination, such as cut-offs or procedural barriers that exclude persons with disabilities, must be rectified to ensure substantive equality.

A bench led by Justice JB Pardiwala and Justice R. Mahadevan struck down Rule 6A of the Madhya Pradesh Judicial Services Rules, which prevented visually impaired candidates and those with low vision from joining the judiciary. The court also quashed a provision requiring visually impaired candidates to complete three years of law practice before being eligible for judicial appointments.

This decision came after petitions highlighted the denial of reservations for such candidates in various states, including Madhya Pradesh. The case was brought to the court's attention after a mother of a visually impaired candidate from Madhya Pradesh wrote to the court, challenging the discriminatory rule. The letter was converted into a public interest litigation (PIL).

Justice Mahadevan remarked that this case addressed significant constitutional principles and disability jurisprudence, reinforcing the need for an inclusive framework in judicial services. The court also extended similar relief to candidates from Rajasthan, emphasizing that persons with disabilities must not face discrimination in their pursuit of judicial service opportunities.