A Bench of Supreme Court of India comprising Chief Justice RM Lodha, Justice Kurian Joseph and Justice RF Nariman, on 12.9.2014, dismissed the petition viz. SLP CC No. 13344/2014 'Union of India vs National Federation for Development of Disabled and others'. This petition was filed by the Government against the judgment and order dated 4th December 2013 of Bombay High Court in PIL No. 106/2010 wherein the High court, on a PIL, had directing the government to implement three per cent reservation for the differently-abled in civil services recruitment, besides granting the benefit in the matter of promotion too. 'The Persons With Disabilities Act' provides for three per cent quota for the differently-abled people. The court said that this Act is a beneficial piece of legislation and that Appointment will include promotion. 

The Court said that the Centre, States and Union Territories were obligated to implement the rules of reservation for this class in the matters of appointment, selection, direct recruitment, deputation and also for promotions. It asked the Centre to show a big heart and give the differently-abled people their due in all central and state government jobs. The SC reiterated its earlier verdict that the principle of not exceeding 50 per cent reservation would not be applicable while granting quota for differently-abled people. The Government had sought to argue that the reservation at the stage of promotion may lead to huge resentment, especially among employees in Group A and Group B categories, since many beneficiaries may get ahead of their seniors.

This order will give a level-playing field to more than four crore people with disabilities in India.

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