Above: Former President, Pranab Mukherjee presenting the Arjuna Award for the year 2012 to Deepa Malik for Athletics Paralympics (file picture)/Photo: PIB

In the matter related to the rights of differently-abled persons Nipun Malhotra has petitioned the Delhi High Court saying that all government buildings be made disabled friendly as per regulation and law.

While hearing the case the court’s bench of Acting Chief Justice Gita Mittal and Justice C Hari Shankar realised that while most of the new buildings do conform to the rules set out by law, very few of the old buildings, including hospitals, have been remodelled to make them disabled-friendly.

While ramps have been created in some instances for those with lower limb impairment, there has basically been zero work done to help the visually impaired.

The petitioner has sought the benefit of all the persons with disabilities in all the government buildings within GNCTD.

On Wednesday (January 10) GNCTD standing counsel Naushad Ahmed submitted that the status report in relation to the requisite facilities for the buildings to be made accessible to disabled persons.

The bench asked the NDMC to list every building, stating the status of the building and what steps have been taken to make them disabled friendly. The bench also wanted a list of things that have not been done.

Ahmed said all new buildings are disabled friendly, especially at new police stations. “They complied with the order,” he said.

The bench insisted that police stations should be remodelled quickly “because it’s the place frequently used by people.”

The counsel said that buildings are waiting to be inspected by the audit committee for persons with disabilities appointed by the public works department. “Once the audit has been done by the committee, compliance of the requirements/recommendations of the committee will be taken up us,” he said.

The bench ordered that the chief engineers be present in court on Thursday.

The bench said: “We want all of you to give a list of buildings. What do the visually impaired do with a ramp? Tell your engineers – CPWD  and PWD – that when they build a building they must tender for an architect. All measures to enable disabled access should be taken.”

Khagesh Jha, appearing for the Union of India, said: “We have filed affidavits on behalf of the UOI.”

The bench asked: “Why only 50 percent of the buildings covered?”

The petitioner said that not a single hospital covered in the list has access. That is why they used ‘partly’.”

The bench also said that the ramp was not the only thing. “There was a complaint in a newspaper item with regards to the booking of tickets by the disabled, where they get normal (coach) tickets despite there being a compartment for the disabled”.

The bench thus observed that the status report has been filed without proper knowledge and has asked for access audit of each building provided in tabular form. Visually impaired and hearing impairment should be considered.

Matter adjourned for February 13.

—India Legal Bureau