The Kerala government has informed the High Court that the validity of a special rank list for Persons with Disabilities (PwD) candidates, created to address long-pending vacancies in state-aided schools, has been extended until May 31, 2026. This move aims to streamline the appointment process for differently-abled individuals under the mandated reservation quota.
Court Proceedings and Government Submission
The submission was made before a bench of Justice N Nagaresh in response to a petition filed by Sri Vivekananda Higher Secondary School in Edakkara, Malappuram. The school had sought a directive to the government to publish the PwD rank list for filling backlog vacancies. The court has admitted the petition and adjourned the hearing to January 27 for the filing of counter-affidavits by the respondents, which include the state government.
During the proceedings, the state clarified that the process of publishing this rank list on the Samanwaya Portal is currently underway. This addresses a key allegation from the petitioners, who claimed the list, though prepared, was not published on the designated K-SMART website.
Root of the Problem: Pending Appointments
The core issue stems from a procedural deadlock affecting numerous aided schools across Kerala. The petitioners argued that education officers are not processing appointments to regular posts because there is no physical list of qualified PwD candidates for positions reserved under the law.
As a result, several appointments made against regular vacancies in their schools remain stuck, awaiting official approval. This situation contradicts the state's own orders implementing the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016, which provides for a 4% reservation in government establishments, including aided schools.
Government's Directive and Rank List Creation
To tackle the challenge of filling backlog vacancies, the government had issued specific mandates. It was directed that appointments made after November 8, 2021, should be adjusted against backlog vacancies that arose between February 7, 1996, and November 7, 2021.
However, responding to claims from school managements about an insufficient number of eligible PwD candidates, the government instructed district-level committees to prepare a separate, consolidated rank list of qualified PwD applicants. The petitioners pointed out that this list was initially set to expire on December 31, 2025, a validity that has now been formally extended by the state.
Implications and Next Steps
The extension of the rank list's validity until May 2026 provides a much-needed window for schools and authorities to complete the appointment process. It is expected to resolve the approval delays for numerous pending appointments in aided schools.
The upcoming court hearing on January 27 will be crucial, as the respondents are required to file their counter-affidavits. The outcome will determine the final procedural roadmap for implementing the PwD reservation in aided educational institutions, ensuring compliance with the central legislation.
