Maharashtra is the only state to have complied with this law

In what is certain to be a sorry state of affairs for disabled rights in the country, it has emerged that Maharashtra is the only state to have complied with the provisions of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016 to the satisfaction of the Supreme Court..A Supreme Court Bench of Justices Dipak Misra, AM Khanwilkar and M Shantanagoudar have also issued directions in a long pending PIL filed by the Justice Sunanda Bhandare Foundation..The PIL sought to ascertain whether the States were in compliance with the latest changes envisaged under the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016..The Court had some words of praise for the new Act..“The 2016 Act is noticeably a sea change in the perception and requires a march forward look with regard to the persons with disabilities and the role of the States, local authorities, educational institutions and the companies. The statute operates in a broad spectrum and the stress is laid to protect the rights and provide punishment for their violation.”.The Act has special emphasis on integrating disabled people into the mainstream, for example by providing for a separate one per cent reservation for each of the three categories of persons with disabilities — persons suffering from blindness and low vision, those suffering from hearing disability and those suffering from locomotor disability or cerebral palsy..That apart, access to justice, free education, role of local authorities, National fund and the State fund for persons with disabilities have been created..Cautioning the States and Union Territories that “under the 2016 Act their responsibilities have grown” Bench also noted,.“We will be failing in our duty if we do not take note of Section 84 that makes provision for creation of special court for speedy trial to try the offences under the 2016 Act. Section 85 stipulates for appointment of special public prosecutor. Thus, emphasis is on the special court, speedy trial and special public prosecutor.”.The Bench has now sought a compliance report from all the States, to be filed within 12 weeks.