SC Raps States, UGC For Not Checking Compliance With Schemes On Enhancing Access To Higher Education Of Persons With Disabilities

A Supreme Court bench of Justice AK Sikri and Justice Ashok Bhushan on Tuesday rapped state governments and the UGC for not checking compliance by higher educational institutions with schemes for enhancing access of disabled persons to higher education, stipulating guidelines on physical environment, transportation and information and communications technology within the premises, as. A Supreme Court bench of Justice AK Sikri and Justice Ashok Bhushan on Tuesday rapped state governments and the UGC for not checking compliance by higher educational institutions with schemes for enhancing access of disabled persons to higher education, stipulating guidelines on physical environment, transportation and information and communications technology within the premises, as formulated under the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act of 2016 and its predecessor of 1995. Further, it was submitted on behalf of the present petitioner, the NGO Disabled Rights Group, that the Central government was required to frame the standards of accessibility pertaining to, inter alia, the infrastructural facilities in hostels and classrooms and special formats in examination and testing models within 6 months of the notification of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Rules of 2017, but the same has not been done. “In compliance with the apex court order dated December 9, 2010, we have already submitted our suggestions on the needs and problems of the different categories of disabled in accessing higher education and the possible solutions thereto in January, 2011.