On the orders of Punjab Ombudsman, Abdur Rashid Khan, a disabled lady has been appointed as Senior Elementary School Educator (SESE) by the Education Department against the quota for the disabled.
Jannat Khatoon placed a complaint before the Punjab Ombudsman that she had passed B.A./B.Ed, Examination and applied in September 2004 in four different government schools for appointment as SESE and ESE against the quota for disabled.
The complainant pointed out that she was not appointed in the schools situated in the city, stating that no post under 2 percent quota was available with the department.
When she requested for appointment in Cantt schools, she was told that she had not appeared for interview in the schools situated in the Cantt area. She applied to EDO (Education) Lahore for the redressal of her grievance, but all went in vain.
The complainant requested the Mohtasib Secretariat that she be got appointed against the quota for the disabled for which she was entitled under the law.
In his departmental response, District Education Officer, Male Elementary Education (M-EE) Lahore, Cantt, informed the Mohtasib Secretariat that there were 445 posts of elementary teachers as per sanctioned strength and only one teacher had been appointed against the quota for the disabled.
Against 59 posts of SESE no disabled candidate had been appointed. It was asserted that the complainant did not appear for interview in either of three schools, therefore, she could not be considered for appointment under the quota.
District Education Officer, Women Elementary Education (W-EE) Lahore city submitted in her report that the complainant applied for the post of SESE (Arts) in two schools. She appeared before the interview committee but since only 12 posts were advertised, therefore, no post under disabled quota was available, hence she could not be appointed.
In her rejoinder, the complainant maintained that since she had appeared in interview before DEO (W) Lahore Cantt, and DEO (W) Lahore City, therefore, she had to be considered present in interview before DEO (M-EE) Lahore Cantt and be appointed as teacher under the quota for the disabled.
The Ombudsman held that mal-administration has been established in the case. Out of 59 sanctioned posts of SESE 2 percent ie one post had to be filled by appointment of a disabled person. Thus, out of 12 posts advertised, 11 posts should have been filled on general merit, whereas one post should have been earmarked for the disabled, but all the 12 posts were filled under general merit.
He directed DEO (W-EE) Lahore to make one post of SESE available and take steps to fill it up from eligible disabled persons in accordance with the rules and the policy.
In her compliance report, DEO (W-EE) Lahore has stated that Jannat Khatoon has been appointed as Senior Elementary School Educator against disabled quota, as per the directions of Ombudsman Punjab.