*Supreme Court Declares Visually Impaired Candidates Eligible for Judicial Serviceson*
In a landmark ruling, the Supreme Court has affirmed the eligibility of visually impaired candidates for judicial appointments across India. The verdict was delivered by a bench comprising Justices JB Pardiwala and R Mahadevan while addressing multiple petitions, including a suo motu case concerning the denial of reservations to such candidates in certain states.
3/3/20251 min read
During the pronouncement, Justice Mahadevan emphasized the case’s significance, highlighting the constitutional principles and institutional disability jurisprudence involved. The Court underscored that persons with disabilities should not face discrimination in judicial services and stressed the state’s duty to implement affirmative action for an inclusive legal framework. It firmly stated that no candidate should be denied an opportunity solely based on their disability.
The case originated from a letter written by the mother of a visually impaired candidate, challenging a provision in the Madhya Pradesh Judicial Services (Recruitment and Service Conditions) Rules that barred visually impaired individuals from applying for judicial positions. Recognizing the issue’s importance, the Supreme Court converted the letter into a suo motu petition.
In its judgment, the Court struck down Rule 6A of the Madhya Pradesh Judicial Services Rules, which disqualified visually impaired and low-vision candidates from judicial appointments. Additionally, it invalidated a provision requiring visually impaired candidates to have three years of prior legal practice. The ruling extended relief beyond Madhya Pradesh, allowing similarly placed candidates in Rajasthan to participate in the selection process.