The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Friday declared the three percent quota for persons with disabilities in all government recruitments as mandatory and a constitutional requirement, ordering immediate steps to ensure its implementation.
According to a report, the court ruled that providing representation to persons with disabilities is a constitutional duty of the state. It observed that failure to allocate the quota amounts to discrimination and a violation of fundamental rights.
In its judgement, the court emphasised that employment is essential for the independence and dignity of persons with disabilities. It directed that the three percent quota must be ensured in all future government recruitments without exception.
The court also ordered the health department to begin a fresh recruitment process under the disability quota and instructed that new advertisements be issued without delay.
It held that adding the three percent disability quota at a later stage was insufficient and could not correct earlier unlawful actions of the health department.
The judgement further stated that providing employment to persons with disabilities is not an act of charity but a fundamental right. The LHC judgement stressed that delayed inclusion of the quota does not validate previous irregularities.
The court made full implementation of the Punjab Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities Act 2022 mandatory and directed the Chief Secretary Punjab to circulate the decision to all government departments.
It also underlined the need for transparency in recruitment and equal opportunities for all eligible candidates, instructing authorities to allow sufficient time for applications and to widely publish job advertisements through newspapers, websites and other platforms.
Justice Raheel Kamran issued the written judgement on a petition filed by Dr Muhammad Khurram Shehzad, who had challenged the failure to include the disability quota in government hiring. The petition was subsequently disposed of.
