- (1.) WP (C) No. 115 of 1998 The learned Additional Solicitor General appearing for the Union of India submits that he has been informed that UPSC has already approached the Personnel Department for considering the question of providing better quality writers and giving more time to the visually handicapped for examination. It is submitted that since the Personnel Department is not impleaded as a party in the petition, he has not been able to get any instructions about the follow-up action taken by the Personnel Department. The Union of India, through the Secretary, Personnel Department is, at the oral request of the learned counsel for the parties, directed to be impleaded as party-respondent. The index shall be corrected.
(2.) Issue notice to the newly impleaded respondent. The learned ASG accepts notice on behalf of the Secretary, Personnel Department and prays for two weeks' time to file the response.
(3.) The learned counsel for the petitioners draws our attention to an advertisement issued by the UGC for eligibility of Indian national candidates for the award of Junior Research Fellowship, etc. Its is submitted that a national level test is scheduled to be held on 27-12-1998. Mr. Bhandare submits that as per the affidavit filed by the University Grants Commission, Respondent 2 to this petition, the Commission has approved the suggestion of the Chairperson to provide better quality of writers to the visually handicapped during the examination so that they are not put at a disadvantage due to poor writers and also to grant them more time for examination including the university examination as well as any competitive examination. He submits that those benefits be made available to the visually handicapped who appear in the national level test. Mr. Gourab Banerji states that he has been furnished with a copy of the advertisement in the Court today. He therefore, seeks time to get instructions. Two weeks' time is granted for the purpose.;