In a significant development, the Supreme Court issued interim directions on Thursday to ensure equitable participation of judicial aspirants with visual impairments in the Madhya Pradesh Judicial Services Exam. This move follows the Court’s suo-moto cognizance on March 7, prompted by a letter from the mother of a visually impaired candidate addressing Chief Justice DY Chandrachud, expressing concerns over their exclusion from judicial service.
Highlighting discrepancies in the 2022 Civil Judge Class-II examination, where visually impaired candidates were not allocated reservation slots, the bench, consisting of the CJI and Justices JB Pardiwala and Manoj Misra, emphasized the violation of principles outlined in the 2016 Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act.
The Court’s interim directives include facilitating the submission of necessary documents by visually impaired candidates by March 23, allowing them to participate in the main examination scheduled for March 30-31. Accommodations such as provision of writers and extended time for completing the test aim to ensure fairness.
To ensure widespread dissemination of the order, the bench emphasized the importance of publishing it on the High Court’s website, newspapers, and direct messaging to eligible candidates via WhatsApp. Additionally, the Court appointed Senior Advocate Gaurav Agarwal as Amicus Curiae to assist in the proceedings.
Furthermore, the bench clarified that the participation of visually impaired candidates in the main examination is subject to the final outcome of the proceedings before the Court. This intervention underscores the Court’s commitment to upholding the rights of individuals with disabilities, echoing its landmark 2021 judgment overruling precedent to exclude candidates with significant visual or hearing disabilities from judicial service.
The matter is set to be heard on April 15, signifying ongoing efforts to address systemic issues and ensure inclusivity in judicial recruitment processes.
