The Karnataka High Court has ruled that candidates who are ‘absolutely blind’ should be prioritized for employment opportunities over those with ‘low vision,’ provided they can fulfill job responsibilities. This decision came as the court dismissed an appeal by the Department of School Education, which had contested a ruling by the Karnataka State Administrative Tribunal (KSAT) favoring H N Latha, a blind candidate from the Scheduled Caste community.
Latha had applied for a teaching position in Kannada and social studies at a government primary school in Mysuru district’s Periyapatna taluk. Despite her name appearing on the selection list in March 2023, her application was rejected in July 2023, a decision she successfully challenged at KSAT. The tribunal not only sided with her but also awarded her Rs 10,000 in costs and directed the appointing authority to reconsider her application within three months.
In their ruling, Justices Krishna S Dixit and CM Joshi of the High Court addressed the department’s argument that ‘low vision’ and ‘absolute blindness’ should be treated as distinct categories for reservation. The bench highlighted that despite potential concerns regarding a completely blind individual teaching subjects like social studies and Kannada, these were insufficient to bar qualified candidates who meet educational criteria from teaching roles.*
The judges praised the unique abilities often developed by those with blindness, such as strong memory and adaptability, referencing notable blind figures in history such as Homer, John Milton, and Helen Keller, to emphasize that visual impairment does not preclude professional success.
