People's Democracy

Appoint Chairman of the RCI

Below is the text of the letter sent by Brinda Karat, Polit Bureau member of the CPI(M) to the prime minister May 10 regarding the appointment of the chairman of the Rehabilitation Council of India.

I am writing to you seeking your intervention in the matter of the appointment of the chairman of the Rehabilitation Council of India.

It is extremely unfortunate that for almost a year after the Selection Committee made its recommendations in June 2012, the new chairman has not been selected. As you know the RCI has a considerable role to play in advancing the interests of the disabled. Keeping the chairperson’s post in limbo for such a long period is unjust and unfair to the institution and to those it is meant to serve.

The National Federation of the Blind filed a PIL in the High Court on the issue. On April 3, 2013, the High Court directed that within three weeks the recommendations of the Selection Committee should be made to the ACC and the appointment made without delay. The court direction itself was made over a month ago, yet no appointment has been made.

Further, in the said petition, the prayer of the petitioners that the recommendation of the Selection Committee for a particular candidate who is visually disabled, should be accepted, was also taken note of by the court. It opined, “Though we cannot issue any specific direction to the ACC for selecting any particular candidate, we only make it clear that the selection will be normally based on the recommendation of the Selection Committee.”

This is to request your urgent intervention to ensure that the direction of the court on both aspects is implemented without any delay. This will be in the best interests of the institution and of persons with disability.