March 8, 2002

    Government proposes to suitably amend the Persons with Disabilities Act 1995 to ensure three percent reservation of seats for physically challenged persons in government and state aided educational institutions. The Minister of Social Justice & Empowerment Dr. Satyanarayan Jatiya told the Lok Sabha in a written reply today that this is being done in view of the ruling by the Delhi High Court that this provision of reservation does not relate to reservation of seats for admission in educational institutions but reservations in posts for employment. The Court said that the provision of reservation figures under the "Employment" chapter under section 39 of the Act. Dr. Jatiya said that his ministry has requested all state governments and appropriate central ministries and departments ensure implementation of section 39 of the Act, as it was of the view that the Act provides for all government educational institutions and those aided by the government to reserve not less than 3% seats all persons with disabilities. The Minister said that the Human Resource Development Ministry, which is the nodal ministry in so far as education is concerned, has also issued similar instructions to the Education Secretaries of state governments and union territory administrations, University Grants Commission etc.