A disabled teacher’s struggle for justice has finally borne fruit. The Supreme Court (SC) has told Syed Bashir-ud-Quadri that despite his celebral palsy, he is fully capable of teaching and has ordered the government to restore the man his job.

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Quadri graduated from the University of Kashmir with a BSc degree in 2004. Since he had cerebral palsy, he opted for a J&K government scheme, Rehbar-e-Taleem, to become a teaching guide.

Quadri, who had topped the list of successful candidates for the government programme, was having a little problem writing, but the medical board and the education department certified that he was capable of doing the job.

However, a candidate who came fourth in the programme, questioned Quadri’s capability and forced a rethink in the matter.Initially, the state high court didn’t see any problem with Quadri being a teacher. But it later changed its mind when a committee set up at the behest of the other candidate found he wasn’t suitable. This happened two years ago and that’s when Quadri moved the apex court, challenging the high court order.

Supreme Court allowed his plea, saying the panel constituted to assess Quadri’s performance had formed a favourable impression of him, so he should be allowed to keep his job. Judges said they were convinced that the approach taken by local authorities and the HC was not in consonance with the scheme’s objective, which is to rehabilitate disabled people.

Quashing the HC order, a bench of justices Altamas Kabir and Cyriac Jose ordered that Quadri be restored his job and asked the government to grant him all the notional benefits of service.

The judges called Quadri’s appeal “a story of his struggle to make himself independent and to find an identity for himself against enormous odds”.