HC issues notice to govt, HPU on lack of facilities for visually challenged

Himachal Pradesh high court on Monday issued notice to the chief secretary, principal secretary (education), director of higher education, Himachal Pradesh University (HPU) vice chancellor and registrar on the issue of lack of facilities for the visually challenged students in the university, colleges and schools.

Himachal Pradesh high court on Monday issued notice to the chief secretary, principal secretary (education), director of higher education, Himachal Pradesh University (HPU) vice chancellor and registrar on the issue of lack of facilities for the visually challenged students in the university, colleges and schools.

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A division bench comprising chief justice Mansoor Ahmad Mir and justice Tarlok Singh Chauhan passed these orders on a petition taken up suo moto by the court as public interest litigation (PIL) on a letter written to the chief justice by a visually challenged student of HPU, Banita Rana.

The court directed the respondents to file their replies within a week and posted the matter for December 31.
The applicant had ruled lack of facilities for blind students in every stage of life in the state and alleged that nothing had been done to protect the rights of people with disabilities, by the university, schools and colleges, in spite of the fact the Supreme Court of India had directed all the states to implement provisions of Persons with Disability Act, 1995, by the end of this year.