Source – https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/delhi/physically-challenged-persons-should-get-free-assistance-at-railway-stations-delhi-hc-9036770/
Publisher – Indian Express
While hearing a suo motu plea to make railway stations and platforms differently abled friendly, the Delhi High Court Tuesday asked the Railways to place its stand on providing assistance for free to persons with disabilities at stations.
The High Court was hearing a 2017 plea initiated by it in the wake of a news report in July that year, which stated that a visually impaired student had missed his MPhil entrance exam as he was prevented from boarding a coach reserved for persons with disabilities.
A division bench of Acting Chief Justice Manmohan and Justice Mini Pushkarna were of prima facie view that “assistance to physically challenged persons at railway stations should be free of cost”.The counsel for the Railways sought time to seek instructions on this point which was granted by the bench. The matter is next listed on December 7.Senior Advocate SK Rungta, appointed as amicus curiae in the matter, submitted that the only outstanding issue pertained to providing human assistance to persons with visual impairment at railway stations. Rungta emphasised that without human assistance, it would be difficult for such persons to get on the train.He further said although the facility to access wheelchairs was available at all important railways, it was on a payment of Rs 250, which was at times even more than that the train fare paid by such persons after taking into account the concession granted to them.He further said that today, free wheelchair facility was being offered even by the Delhi Metro to its travellers.
