Uttaranchal High Court: The Division Bench comprising of Lok Pal Singh and Rajiv Sharma JJ., laid down a series of directions by disposing of the petition focusing on the needs of children with disabilities and stating that:
“Children with special needs should have equal opportunities”.
The petitioner had placed the list of children with special needs in the State of Uttarakhand in tabular form for which the Respondent filed the counter affidavit stating the steps taken to promote the special children’s education. The point of concern in this matter was that, the Respondents even after taking several steps were unable to take the steps in letter and spirit of the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009 along with the rules framed by the State of Uttarakhand, the Persons with Disabilities (Equal Opportunities, Protection of Rights and Full Participation) Act, 1995.
Therefore, the High Court on observing the inadequate step been taken by the respondents issued mandatory directions in light of giving access to free education in an appropriate environment to every child with disability also stressing upon the endeavor to be made to promote the integration of a child with disabilities in the normal schools. The following directives were issued:
- Special Educators to be appointed in both Government aided and unaided private schools in State of Uttarakhand.
- Schools to make premises barrier-free and suitable for free movement of children with special needs.
- Special teacher’s training institutions in accordance with Section 29 of Persons with Disabilities (Equal Opportunities, Protection of Rights and Full Participation) Act, 1995.
- Sufficient funds to be released in order to impart education in ordinary schools or special schools.
- Construction of a sufficient number of hostels.
- All the necessities required including the books, uniforms, etc. To be provided to the children before the start of the academic session.
- Scholarship of Rs 1,000/- per month each to be provided to children with special needs.
- Curriculum to be prepared focusing on the difficulties that they face.
- Amanuensis to be provided to the blind students in all the educational institutions throughout the State of Uttarakhand. [Kamal Gupta v. State of Uttarakhand,2018 SCC OnLine Utt 677, dated 11-07-2018]