Tripura HC has directed the state government to explain steps taken to fill vacant posts reserved for visually impaired aspirants while hearing a PIL filed by the All Tripura Blind Association over disability rights, braille facilities, and employment opportunities.
The Tripura High Court on Tuesday directed the state government to submit a detailed response explaining the measures taken to fill vacant posts reserved for visually impaired job aspirants across various government departments. The direction came during the hearing of a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by the All Tripura Blind Association highlighting multiple issues faced by persons with visual disabilities in the state.
Advocate Samarjit Bhattacharjee, who represented the petitioners, informed media persons that the court had sought a separate affidavit from the government regarding the status of recruitment under the reserved quota for visually impaired candidates.
The PIL, filed in 2022, drew attention to the long-standing challenges faced by people suffering from blindness and low vision in Tripura. According to the petitioners, visually impaired students and job aspirants have continued to face neglect due to the lack of proper educational and employment support systems in the state.
The petition specifically highlighted the absence of a braille script printing press in Tripura, alleging that students with visual disabilities were deprived of adequate study materials for years. The petitioners also accused the government of failing to fill vacant posts reserved for visually impaired candidates despite constitutional and legal provisions guaranteeing equal opportunities in public employment.
Speaking on the developments in court, Bhattacharjee stated that the state government admitted that no braille press had yet been established in Tripura. However, the government informed the court that distribution of braille script-based books had already begun for visually impaired students studying in different institutions across the state.
The advocate further said that another important issue raised before the court concerned the appointment of a permanent full-time commissioner for persons with disabilities. According to the submission made before the bench, the government assured the court that the appointment process for a full-time commissioner would be completed within the next four months after obtaining approval from the state cabinet.
The division bench comprising M. S. Ramachandra Rao and Biswajit Palit directed the government to clearly explain the steps undertaken for filling vacant reserved posts meant for visually impaired candidates. The court observed that employment opportunities for persons with disabilities remain an important aspect of inclusive governance and social justice.
The matter has now been scheduled for further hearing in July 2026. The upcoming hearing is expected to focus on the government’s compliance report and the progress made in addressing the concerns raised in the PIL.
The case has generated significant attention among disability rights groups and social organizations in Tripura, many of whom have been demanding stronger implementation of welfare policies for persons with disabilities. Activists believe the High Court’s intervention could accelerate administrative action on recruitment, accessibility, and educational support for visually impaired citizens in the state.
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The PIL continues to underline broader concerns regarding equal access to education, employment, and institutional support for differently-abled individuals, particularly those living with blindness and low vision in Tripura.
