'Appropriate Measures Should Have Been Taken Much Earlier': Madras HC Directs State To Submit Road Map For Purchasing Disabled Friendly Buses

The Madras High Court on Thursday directed the State government to submit a road map for purchasing disabled-friendly buses in 4 weeks time. During an earlier hearing dated July 22 the Court had restrained the State government from purchasing any new buses for the purpose of public transport unless such buses are disabled-friendly as per the statutory requirements under the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016 and the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Rules, 2017. Dismissing such concerns raised, the Court opined that the State should have undertaken appropriate measures to ensure that public buses have disabled friendly amenities a long time ago. Though it can be appreciated that the pandemic has caused a severe loss and city roads may still not be viable to receive low platform heavy duty vehicles, there has to be much more acquisition of disabled friendly buses and investment in appropriate roads since the law has been in place for a considerable period of time" However, the Court opined that in the interest of the public at large, it would not place such a blanket embargo on the acquisition of buses sans disabled friendly amenities.