New buses must be disabled friendly: Madras High Court

Chennai: The Madras high court has directed that any new buses to be introduced must meet the requirements of people with special needs and as per the norms in consultation with the Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities.

The court issued the directive while passing further interim orders on two PILs from Rajiv Rajan and M. Gnana Sambandam, which among other things sought a directive to authorities to implement the Persons with Disabilities (Equal Opportunities, Protection of Rights and Full Participation) Act in its letter and spirit by providing disabled-friendly buses and barrier-free environment in public places.

After perusing the report filed by amicus curie, the Bench said the report suggests that for the time being, the issue, which requires to be addressed was the lack of improvement by Metropolitan Transport Corporation and State Express Transport Corporation in introducing buses which were disabled-friendly.

Counsel appearing for transport corporation submitted though initially there was some restraint in procuring buses, it had been observed there may be some buses procured dedicated for use of persons with special needs and passengers found travelling in such buses were few, the Bench said.

“We are of the view that any steps to be taken for the benefit of the persons with special needs have to be inclusive in character. The idea cannot be to have separate buses, but buses which are used daily by passengers meeting the requirement of persons with special needs. It is not possible to pre-determine the route to be travelled, the destination to be reached etc., by introducing buses only for certain routes which are disabled-friendly. The objective has to be over a period of time, to make sure all the buses in use meet the requirement of people with special needs. This can only happen and if procurement of such buses which are meant to cater to the people with special needs.”

The bench said in determining whether a bus was disabled friendly inter alia it has to be ensured there was easy access for boarding and alighting. It should also be ensured that the benefits which were available in terms of travel concession and for persons with special needs were available on all these buses also. The court said a compliance report should be filed in eight weeks.