LI Network
Published on: October 4, 2023 at 11:57 IST
The Karnataka High Court seek State government response to provide a comprehensive and effective response to a PIL filed by a visually impaired individual seeking the reinstatement of audio announcement services on State and Corporation buses as well as Metro railways.
The division bench, comprising Chief Justice Prasanna B Varale and Justice Krishna S Dixit, emphasized the need to ensure a safe and comfortable commute for physically challenged and visually impaired individuals and set a deadline of November 9 for the State to respond.
The court emphasized the significance of the petition, urging the respondent authorities to consider it as a matter of social responsibility rather than an adversarial legal dispute.
In this context, it quoted a letter written by legal luminary Nani Palkhivala to Soli Sorabjee, another prominent legal figure, upon Sorabjee’s appointment as Attorney General in 1989. Palkhivala wrote, “The greatest glory of the Attorney General isn’t to win cases for the government but to ensure that justice is done to the people.”
The petitioner, Shreyas, argued that audio announcements were initially available on transportation modes such as KSRTC and BMTC buses, as well as metro lines, which greatly assisted visually impaired passengers in identifying stops and destinations.
However, the audio system was suddenly discontinued, leading to difficulties for visually impaired individuals. Shreyas and his visually impaired friends and volunteers raised their grievances and found that others were experiencing similar difficulties.
Shreyas emphasized that he and his peers were not seeking special treatment but rather a facilitation to reach their destinations, given the crowded nature of public transportation.
He also pointed out that while bus conductors often assist physically challenged and visually impaired passengers, overcrowded buses make it challenging for them to provide adequate attention, further hindering the passengers’ ability to reach their destinations.
Shreyas noted that neighboring states like Maharashtra, Telangana, and Andhra Pradesh have functioning audio announcement systems in major modes of transport, including metro lines, city buses, and state transport corporation buses.
Private transport operators like OLA and Uber offer Google Maps facilities to both passengers and drivers, allowing them to exchange necessary information and seek assistance, resulting in smooth and efficient passenger support, especially for the visually impaired or physically challenged.
The court pointed out that the petition was filed in 2022, and respondents were instructed to respond within two weeks in August. However, as of the hearing date, no objections or responses had been filed by the government advocates.
The court expressed its hope that the state government would provide suggestions and serve as a role model for other states in this matter.
Case Title: N Shreyas & ANR vs. The Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation & Others.
