List steps taken for enforcing amended disabilities Act: HC

Saurabh Malik
Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, September 11

The Punjab and Haryana High Court has asked the state government to come out with details of steps initiated for the implementation of the amended provisions of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016.

The directions by Justice Rajiv Narain Raina of the High Court came during the hearing of a suo motu or “Court on its own motion” case against the State of Punjab and other respondents. As the case came up for hearing, counsel appearing for the State of Punjab, Simran Grewal, placed before the Bench an additional affidavit by Joint Director, Department of Social Security and Women and Child Development.

Responding to the affidavit, amicus curiae or the friend of the Court Arjun Sheoran stated that Section 24 of the Amended Act, 2016, had not even been adverted to. The Section makes it clear that the government, within limits of economic capacity, would formulate schemes and programmes to ensure adequate standard of living for people with disability.

Justice Raina also asked the state to visit Section 24 of the Act before filing a further additional affidavit to show steps taken for implementation of the provisions of the Amended Act. Justice Raina also asked Union of India to file an additional affidavit indicating the funds made available by the Central Government to the State of Punjab to carry out the schemes under the new Disability Law, 2016. The case will now come up in October second week.