Snehal Upadhyay-
The High Court of Madras has directed the state government that they shouldn’t buy any bus which is not disabled- friendly and such purchases would be considered as a violation of disability laws and Court orders.
“It will be in violation of court orders and the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act. If we find what you have done is contrary to the statute then you have to undo the same,” the Court said.
The division bench comprising Justice Sanjib Banerjee and Justice Senthilkumar Ramamoorthy was hearing a PIL (Public Interest Litigation) filed by a disability rights activist.
The PIL was about the decision of the state government that only 10% of buses of MTC (Metropolitan Transport Corporation) will be acquired by disabled people which will have disabled-friendly low floor buses and another 25% would have a lift mechanism or any other system for wheelchairs.
Advocate A Yogesgwaran who was representing the petitioner, contended that the Court has already passed many orders where it has said that new buses must meet the requirements of the disabled people.
They also pointed out the High Court’s 2016 decision wherein the Court said that buses plying in every route should be disabled-friendly.
The counsel further submitted that the recent GO (Government Orders) passed by the state was also a complete violation of the Court’s orders and provisions of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act and rules.