NHRC serves notice to the Kerala government over handicap candidates' issue

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has taken suo motu cognizance of a media report that the Kerala Public Service Commission conducted a special recruitment test for the physically handicapped persons. According to the report, some of them had to be physically carried to the second floor of the Teacher Training Institute, Manacaud in Thiruvananthapuram District.

According to the report, published on August 8, around 200 physically challenged candidates appeared for the test. The report also carried a photograph showing some girls climbing down the stairs on the crutches.

The Commission has observed that it has issued the guidelines in respect of the physically handicapped persons. The contents of the media report, if true, raise a serious issue of violation of their rights.

The NHRC has issued a notice to the Secretary, Kerala Public Service Commission, and the Chief Secretary, Govt. of Kerala calling for reports in the matter within two weeks. They have also been asked to identify the persons responsible for this act and inform the action taken against them.