The High Court has sought details about the facilities being provided to disabled persons in Jammu and Kashmir.
Hearing a public Interest litigation, division bench of chief justice Gita Mittal and justice Sanjeev Kumar directed the authorities to furnish details of facilities being created and provided to the disabled persons.
The directions followed after the bench perused the status report filed by social welfare department through its deputy advocate general, Feroz Ahmad.
The report indicated the facilities being extended to the disabled persons in the state.
Meanwhile, the court directed that copy of the report be furnished to the Member Secretary, J&K State Legal Service Authority as well as to all the Secretaries of District Legal Services Authorities so that the benefits of the Schemes are provided to disabled persons.
Apart from the government schemes and measures, the court said, it is essential to ensure that an enabling environment is created in the state for all disabled persons.
The report indicated that the government of India (GoI) has released Rs 42.74 lakh for creation of barrier free environment in seven buildings located in Jammu and Kashmir. It also said DPRs of sixteen more buildings have been submitted to GoI recently.
“Let the respondents place before this court the details of the creation of facilities which are to be designated for persons with disabilities,” the court said.
Underscoring that there was an essential need that academic institutions provided an enabling environment for the disabled persons, the court made University of Kashmir and Central University Kashmir as parties to the petition through their respective Registrars.
The court directed its Registry to issue notice to the newly arrayed respondents without any process fee.
Notice issued shall indicate that they shall submit a status report on the above issues, on or before the next date of hearing, the court said.
Meanwhile the court appointed advocate Moksha Kazmi, as amicus curiae for assisting the court in the matter.