Agartala, May 19: The Tripura High Court on Tuesday sought a detailed response from the state government regarding the steps taken to fill vacant posts reserved for visually impaired job aspirants across different government departments. The court directed the state authorities to submit a separate affidavit explaining the measures undertaken in this regard.
The direction was issued during the hearing of a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by the All Tripura Blind Association, which had raised concerns over several issues affecting persons with visual disabilities in the state.
Advocate Samarjit Bhattacharjee, appearing in the matter, informed media persons that the PIL, filed in 2022, highlighted various difficulties and shortcomings faced by individuals suffering from blindness and low vision. The petitioners alleged that despite legal provisions and policy commitments, adequate support and facilities for visually impaired persons had not been ensured.
According to Bhattacharjee, the petition drew the attention of the court to the government’s failure to establish a Braille printing press in the state and the lack of availability of Braille script-based educational resources for students. The petitioners also expressed concern over the alleged reluctance of the government to fill reserved vacancies meant for visually impaired candidates in various departments.
The issue regarding the appointment of a permanent full-time commissioner for persons with disabilities was also raised before the court during the hearing.
During the proceedings, the state government reportedly acknowledged that a Braille press has not yet been established in Tripura. However, it informed the court that the process of distributing Braille script-based books to students had already started.
The government also stated that a proposal for appointing a full-time commissioner for persons with disabilities would be placed before the state cabinet, and the appointment process is expected to be completed within the next four months.
The bench comprising Chief Justice M.S. Ramachandra Rao and Justice Biswajit Palit directed the government to provide a specific response on the issue of reserved vacancies. The matter is now scheduled for further hearing in July 2026.
