Court seeks status report on vacant disability quota posts

The Himachal Pradesh High Court has sought a fresh status report on the filling of vacant posts reserved for persons with disabilities.

A Division Bench comprising Chief Justice Gurmeet Singh Sandhawalia and Justice Jiya Lal Bhardwaj issued the directive after examining a compliance affidavit filed by the Director, Empowerment of Scheduled Castes, Other Backward Classes, Minorities and the Specially-Abled. The affidavit detailed the recruitment status across government departments and public bodies.

Progress & pendency

According to the affidavit, 12 departments, boards and corporations have reported that 153 reserved posts across Groups A, B, C and D have been filled, including 61 posts for visually impaired candidates

However, 97 reserved posts still remain vacant, of which 30 belong to the visually impaired category. Regarding backlog vacancies, the departments informed the court that 50 such posts remain unfilled, including 14 for visually impaired candidates

The High Court Division Bench directed that a fresh status report be filed by January 9, 2026, outlining the updated position on vacant and backlog posts

According to the affidavit, 12 departments, boards and corporations have reported that 153 reserved posts across Groups A, B, C and D have been filled, including 61 posts for visually impaired candidates. However, 97 reserved posts still remain vacant, of which 30 belong to the visually impaired category.

Regarding backlog vacancies, the departments informed the court that 50 such posts remain unfilled, including 14 for visually impaired candidates.

The affidavit further states that the Department of Personnel has fixed a biannual recruitment schedule for persons with disabilities in April and September. It also notes that in a high-level meeting on November 12, 2025, the Chief Secretary directed all departments with backlog vacancies to complete the recruitment process without delay. A letter issued by the Deputy Secretary (Personnel) on October 9, 2025, sets a strict timeline requiring the screening and evaluation process to be completed by November 30, 2025, with the final merit list to follow within 15 days.

Taking note of these submissions, the Bench directed that a fresh status report be filed by January 9, 2026, outlining the updated position on vacant and backlog posts.

The matter continues to be closely monitored by the High Court through a public interest litigation seeking timely enforcement of statutory reservations for persons with disabilities.