Employment opportunities: ‘Disabled must get their share of govt jobs’
Disabled petitioner with an MA degree refused interview for lack of diploma.
LAHORE:
The Lahore High Court on Thursday directed the Punjab Public Service Commission (PPSC) to interview a disabled candidate for a lecturer’s position.
Justice Ijazul Ahsan issued the order on the petition of Jabir Hussain, a blind man who had applied for the post. The judge also sought replies from the PPSC and the Punjab government.
The petitioner submitted that hat he had MAs in English and English Language Teaching. He said he had applied for the post of lecturer which the PPSC had advertised by PPSC. Hussain said he had passed the written exam, but when he went in for the interview on January 16 he was disqualified on the grounds that he did not have a diploma in Teaching of English as a Foreign Language (TEFL). The petitioner said that he had sought an equivalence certificate from the qualification equivalence determination committee and Higher Education Commission but his request was ignored.
Hussain said it was surprising that the PPSC was not considering a candidate holding a master’s degree and was instead asking for a diploma.
The judge remarked that the government had reserved a 2 per cent job quota for the disabled and they should be given their right. Hussain requested the court to issue directions to the PPSC to interview him for the job. The court sought replies from the respondents and directed the Higher Education Commission for a report on the equivalence certificate.
The court will resume the hearing in two weeks.
Published in The Express Tribune, February 17th, 2012.
The Lahore High Court on Thursday directed the Punjab Public Service Commission (PPSC) to interview a disabled candidate for a lecturer’s position.
Justice Ijazul Ahsan issued the order on the petition of Jabir Hussain, a blind man who had applied for the post. The judge also sought replies from the PPSC and the Punjab government.
The petitioner submitted that hat he had MAs in English and English Language Teaching. He said he had applied for the post of lecturer which the PPSC had advertised by PPSC. Hussain said he had passed the written exam, but when he went in for the interview on January 16 he was disqualified on the grounds that he did not have a diploma in Teaching of English as a Foreign Language (TEFL). The petitioner said that he had sought an equivalence certificate from the qualification equivalence determination committee and Higher Education Commission but his request was ignored.
Hussain said it was surprising that the PPSC was not considering a candidate holding a master’s degree and was instead asking for a diploma.
The judge remarked that the government had reserved a 2 per cent job quota for the disabled and they should be given their right. Hussain requested the court to issue directions to the PPSC to interview him for the job. The court sought replies from the respondents and directed the Higher Education Commission for a report on the equivalence certificate.
The court will resume the hearing in two weeks.
Published in The Express Tribune, February 17th, 2012.