GAIL (India) Limited
Employment of Physically Challenged Persons
May 4, 2005, New Delhi GAIL, as a responsible Corporate Citizen has always accorded highest priority to compliance of statutory Guidelines laid down by the Government of India from time to time. GAIL has also undertaken Special Recruitment Drive from time to time for recruitment of such categories as required under the PWD Act, 1995.
Section 34 of the Persons with Disabilities (Equal Opportunities, Protection of Rights and Full Participation) Act, 1995 (PWD Act, 1995) prescribes requisitioning names from Special Employment Exchanges.
With regard to the four trainees, who could not be absorbed and highlighted in a section of the media, we wish to share the facts which are as under:
- These four individuals were engaged as On Job Trainees. In view of Section-34 of PWD Act, 1995 referred above, their cases could not be straightaway considered for absorption. As such, they were advised to get their names registered with Special Employment Exchanges.
- In August, 2003, action was initiated for recruiting Physically Handicapped persons and accordingly, requisitions were sought from 15 Special Employment Exchanges including Delhi.
- The candidates sponsored by the 15 Special Employment Exchanges were called for a written test conducted on 11th of January, 2004. Since, names of these four individuals as mentioned in the reports were not forwarded by the Special Employment Exchange at Delhi and hence they could not be considered for the notified posts.
- The training of the four individuals came to an end on 31st January, 2004. These individuals filed a writ in the Hon’ble High Court of Delhi, which was disposed off with directions to GAIL to issue press advertisements with reference to the positions for which names were requisitioned for Special Employment Exchanges.
- In compliance with the Hon’ble High Court directives, the process of recruitment through special employment exchanges was held in abeyance and fresh advertisements were issued in leading Daily Newspapers and Employment News. Approximately 8,000 applications, including those of the above referred four individuals, were received in response to the advertisement issued.
- 5032 applicants including the four individuals were called for the written test, which was conducted on 3rd October, 2004. However, none of the four individuals appeared in the written test.
- Based on the above written test, candidates were called for skill test and interview and considering the overall performance in the written test, skill test and interview, 8 candidates have been issued offers of employment. Seven of these eight to whom offers were issued have since joined GAIL and the remaining one candidate has sought time extension for getting relieved from his present employer.
- The individuals also filed Review Petitions and appealed to the Division Bench of the Hon’ble High Court of Delhi, which were disposed off. Further, it would be worth mentioning that the individuals also approached the National Human Rights Commission. The Commission vide their Order dated 31st January, 2005 has closed the case.
It can be seen from the above that company on its part had done all that was possible in the matter, to provide adequate opportunities to these individuals.