HPU reserves 5 pc seats for disabled students

Tribune News Service

Shimla, October 8

Himachal Pradesh University (HPU) has become the first state university in the North to reserve 5 per cent seats for disabled students.

The Umang Foundation took up the cause and a number of disabled students were given admission and some were allotted rooms in hostels after the High Court issued directions.

Visually challenged Indu Kumari, member of the foundation, was the first student to approach the High Court after she was denied admission in MA (Political Science) by the HPU and some other disabled students also sent letters to the Chief Justice which were treated as PIL.

All petitioners have been accommodated by the university following orders passed by a Division Bench comprising Acting Chief Justice Sanjay Karol and Justice Ajay Mohan Goel. The Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016, says that it is mandatory by the university to implement 5 per cent reservation for the disabled, chairman of the foundation Ajai Srivastav said.

The university contended that 3 per cent reservation was given to them as per the Persons with Disabilities Act, 1995. Apart for Indu Kumari, Ravinder Thakur, Jitender Kumar and Vijay Kumar were also denied admission as the university was reluctant to implement the enhanced quota but later fell in line.

Ajai Srivastava, who is also a university teacher holding additional charge of nodal officer (disability affairs), said now more disabled students would get an opportunity to pursue higher studies and fight for implementation of 5 per cent reservation in all institutions of higher studies would continue.

The trigger

Visually challenged Indu Kumari, member of the foundation, was the first student to approach the High Court after she was denied admission in MA (Political Science) by the HPU. Some other disabled students also shot off letters to the Chief Justice which were treated as PIL petition.