Date:22/01/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/01/22/stories/2008012257130400.htm

New Delhi

Court directive over facilities for disabled

Staff Reporter

NEW DELHI: The Delhi High Court on Monday directed the Union Government, the Delhi Government and local authorities here to issue circulars to all official departments and agencies to provide disabled-friendly facilities at all public places in the Capital in keeping with the Persons with Disabilities (Equal Opportunities, Protection of Rights and Full Participation) Act, 1995, which mandates the Centre and the State governments to provide facilities for the disabled.

A Division Bench of the Court comprising Justice T.S. Thakur and Justice Aruna Suresh issued the direction on a public interest litigation by the Disabled Rights Group of Javed Abidi seeking directions for providing special facilities for the physically challenged at all public places. The Bench later disposed of the petition.

In an earlier hearing, the Court had directed the Railway Ministry to provide wheelchairs at all railway stations across the country for the physically challenged.

The PIL had also sought a direction for setting up ramps for the physically challenged as provided under the Act.