Jharkhand High Court directs State to provide disabled-friendly infrastructure in courts, tribunals

The Jharkhand High Court recently directed the State government to provide disabled-friendly infrastructure in all courts, quasi-judicial bodies and tribunals in the State [PUCL v State]..A bench of Chief Justice Sanjaya Kumar Mishra and Justice Rajesh Shankar said the State is mandated under law to provide such facilities within five years from the notification of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Rules, 2017.Since the said deadline already expired, such facilities have to be provided within six months, the bench ordered. "In that view of the matter, we allow this writ petition (PIL) and hereby, direct that since the 5 years have already elapsed, the said facilities shall be provided in any court, tribunal, authority, commission or any other judicial or quasi-judicial body, within a period of six months, as undertaken by Mr. Rajiv Ranjan, learned Advocate General appearing for the State," the Court said in its order..The order was passed on a public interest litigation (PIL) petition filed by People’s Union for Civil Liberties seeking a direction to the State government to furnish a minimum of two wheelchairs in all courts and judicial and quasi-judicial forums.Additionally, the plea also sought implementation of suitable infrastructure to accommodate differently-abled individuals in accordance with Sections 12 (access to justice)and 45 (time limit) of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016..In June this year, the Court had directed the State to take appropriate instructions and file counter affidavit. However, since no affidavit was filed by the State, the Court concluded that the government has no objection to the prayer made by the petitioner. It is the duty of the State of Jharkhand to provide the facilities to the differently abled persons, the Court and proceeded to directed the State to do so within six months. "The Chief Secretary of the State of Jharkhand shall execute our order by issuing appropriate directions to the Department In-charge of providing the infrastructure and other facilities to the differently abled persons," the Court ordered.Advocate Shailesh Poddar represented petitioner.Advocates Rajiv Ranjan and Piyush Chitresh represented the respondents..[Read Order]