HC gives reprieve to disabled employees for settlement of pending claims by State Govt.

Ferozepur, September 18, 2017: The physically challenged persons expressed happiness on the decision of the High Court over speedy settlement of pending claims of handicapped employees in humane & compassionate manner by the Education Department, while disposing of Civil Writ Petitions 20509 and 20782 of 2017 in a meeting held under the tutelage of Harcharan Brar, President of Disabled Employees Union to chalk out further strategy for taking up the matter with the concerned authorities.

Out of 4.5 lacs employees approximately working in Punjab, around 1 lac employees are working in Education Department and 3 per cent of them are disabled persons, said Brar.  

Speaking to the media persons, Harcharan Brar said, the instant writs petitions were preferred raising all pervasive prayers  to direct the DPIs Secondary & Elementary,  Secretary,  School Education Dept,  Punjab & District Education Officers apart from other respondents of Punjab Govt., to receive & decide their distinctive claims of different  categories of handicapped teachers & heads regarding “all allowances, benefits, promotions, preferential treatment in postings/transfers, special leave, allotment of government accommodation, extension of two years after retirement” as would be admissible to the category of handicapped employees.

He further said, as against the pleadings on record and the prayer raised in the petition, the High Court was of the considered view that it would be appropriate for each of the petitioners to approach the competent authority, under the State Government, to raise their specific claims admissible to them under the parent Act of 1995 along with subsequent rules, notifications and also under the relevant State Government instructions.     

However, the court disposed of the writ petitions by granting liberty to the petitioners to approach the respondent-authorities or competent authority to raise their specific claims as also to cite the relevant provision/instructions under which, such claim is covered, he added.

In the eventuality of any such claim being raised, the State Government, the appropriate authority would be obligated to examine the same and to take a decision thereupon in keeping with the spirit and objective of the 1995 Act itself.