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Issues Involved:
1. Reservation for visually handicapped persons in Group A and B posts. 2. Provision of facilities for visually handicapped candidates to write civil services examinations in Braille-script or with the help of a Scribe. Issue-Wise Detailed Analysis: 1. Reservation for Visually Handicapped Persons in Group A and B Posts: The National Federation of Blind filed a petition under Article 32 of the Constitution of India seeking a writ of mandamus to direct the Union of India and the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) to provide reservations for visually handicapped persons in Group A and B posts in the Government and public sector undertakings. The visually handicapped constitute a significant section of society, and the Ministry of Welfare, Government of India, has been taking measures to utilize their potentialities, including a 3% reservation in Group C and D posts. The Ministry of Welfare constituted a Standing Committee to identify jobs suitable for the handicapped in Group A and B posts. The Committee's report, published on October 31, 1986, identified 416 categories of Group A and B posts suitable for various disabilities, including visual impairment. The Government of India accepted the report and issued an office memorandum on November 25, 1986, to give preference to handicapped persons in recruitment for these posts. However, the petitioner contended that the decisions in the memorandum had not been implemented. The Court noted that the Government had taken several years to decide on providing reservations in Group A and B posts and urged the Government to expedite the decision. 2. Provision of Facilities for Visually Handicapped Candidates to Write Civil Services Examinations: The petition also sought to allow visually handicapped candidates to write civil services examinations in Braille-script or with the help of a Scribe. The Court acknowledged that the Committee's report identified several Group A and B posts suitable for visually handicapped persons, which are filled through civil services examinations. The Court found no justification to deprive visually handicapped candidates of the right to compete for these posts. The Court referred to an affidavit by Mr. V.K. Cherian, Under Secretary to the Government of India, which stated that the posts identified for the blind were not required to be filled through competitive examinations. The Court disagreed, noting that several posts identified in the report could be filled through such examinations. The Court directed the Government of India and the UPSC to permit visually handicapped candidates to compete in civil services examinations and to provide necessary facilities, such as writing in Braille-script or with the help of a Scribe. The Court clarified that visually handicapped persons recruited to the lowest level of service would not be entitled to claim promotion to higher posts if those posts were unsuitable for them due to physical requirements. Judgment: The writ petition was partly allowed. The Government of India and the UPSC were directed to permit visually handicapped (blind and partially-blind) eligible candidates to compete in civil services examinations and to provide facilities such as Braille-script or a Scribe. There were no orders as to costs.
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