Govt cover for disabled employees opting V RS

The ministry said no promotion shall be denied to a person merely on the ground of disability. No govt establishment shall discriminate against any person with disability in any matter relating to employment.

NEW DELHI: Disabled government employees seeking voluntary retirement (VRS) due to the hardships faced by them can continue in service with the same pay scale and benefits, the Personnel Ministry said in an order on Monday, highlighting the different protections available to them.

Citing provisions under Section 20 of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (RPWD) Act, 2016, it said every government establishment shall provide reasonable accommodation and appropriate barrier-free and conducive environment to employees with disability.

"No Government establishment shall dispense with or reduce in rank, an employee who acquires a disability during his or her service," reads the Section 20(4) of the RPWD Act, cited by the ministry in its order.

Referring to the RPWD Act and a Supreme Court’s judgement, the order said, "it is stated that whenever a government servant seeks voluntary retirement citing medical grounds, or when the said VRS notice has been submitted due to a disability, the administrative authorities shall examine as to whether the case is covered under Section 20(4) of RPWD Act, 2016".

In case the provisions are applicable, the government servant shall be advised s/he has the option of continuing in service with the same pay scale and service benefits, said the order issued to secretaries of all central government departments.

"In case a disabled govt servant reconsiders his decision and withdraws the notice for voluntary retirement, his case shall be dealt with the aforesaid provisions of Section 20 of RPWD Act, 2016. If however, in spite of being so advised, such govt servant still wishes to take voluntary retirement, the request may be processed as per the applicable rules," it said.