Case UpdateLabour & Employment📍 Supreme Court of India
Supreme Court Directs CRPF to Pay ₹1.25 Cr Compensation for Medically Invalidating Disabled Constable
The Supreme Court held that the CRPF violated Section 47 of the Persons with Disabilities Act, 1995, by medically invalidating a driver who acquired a visual disability during service, emphasizing that state entities must act as model employers.
Justice Dipankar Datta and Justice Augustine George Masih
13 Jul 2026
2026 LiveLaw (SC) 668
Whether a government establishment / armed force violates Section 47 of the Persons with Disabilities Act, 1995 by medically invalidating a constable who developed a visual disability during service instead of providing an alternative post.
The Supreme Court of India has sharply criticized the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) for failing in its obligation as a "model employer" after medically invalidating a constable who developed a visual disability during his service tenure.
Key Legal Findings
The bench observed that government establishments and armed forces are bound under Section 47 of the Persons with Disabilities Act, 1995 to protect the employment of personnel who acquire a disability during service rather than summarily invalidating them.
Mandatory Protection: Employers must provide alternative suitable posts or accommodate disabled personnel without financial detriment.
Subsequent Relief: Since the constable had already reached the age of superannuation during litigation, the Court modified the High Court's reinstatement direction.
Composite Award: The Court awarded a composite sum of ₹1.25 Crore covering back wages, interest, and litigation costs.
📌 Held by the Court
The Supreme Court held the discharge unlawful under Section 47 of the PwD Act. Due to his superannuation during the legal process, the Court awarded ₹1.25 Crore as a full and final composite settlement.
⚡ Practical Impact
Reaffirms that state entities must provide non-discriminatory alternative accommodations for employees acquiring disabilities during service, serving as a warning against immediate medical invalidation.
👔 For Lawyers & Advocates
Provides precedent for enforcing Section 47 rights of disabled state/paramilitary employees and securing composite monetary awards when reinstatement becomes impossible due to age.
🤖 Key Takeaway
Medically invalidating an employee who acquires a disability during service violates Section 47 of the PwD Act, 1995; alternative postings or full monetary compensation must be provided.
