Aishwarya Rathore –
Published On: October 3, 2021 at 12:45 IST
The Supreme Court granted the Centre one week to respond to a petition seeking directions to the Centre to issue specific guidelines to ensure that students with disabilities participate equally in online classes as others.
A Bench of Justices AM Khanwilkar and CT Ravikumar was hearing the petition filed by the Javed Abidi Foundation, which also requested that the examination schedule takes into consideration the condition of students with disabilities.
Additional Solicitor General Aishwarya Bhati, appearing for the Union of India, sought additional time to file an affidavit on the issue as they had not received the necessary instructions from the Ministry of Education.
To this, the Bench said, “Their academic year will start. If you’re going to give them some relief, do it early. That’s all we are saying.”
The petition further requests that the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities and the Department of Higher Education ensure that the guidelines are strictly implemented within a specified time frame.
If the authorities fail, the penalty specified in Section 89 of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act would be applied rigorously and with immediate effect.
Accordingly, the Court listed the matter for October 8.
Also Read: Pragyata guides and their implementation
SC directs states to provide facilities to children in care homes for online classes