New
Delhi:
The Supreme Court on Tuesday sought response from the Centre on a plea seeking
directions to issue specific guidelines to ensure students with disabilities
participate equally with others in online classes. A bench comprising Justices
A M Khanwilkar, Sanjiv Khanna and J K Maheshwari issued notice to the Ministry
of Social Justice and Empowerment and Department of Higher Education on a PIL
filed by Javed Abidi Foundation.
The
top court also directed the petitioner to place on record all applications to
govt authorities and their responses and allowed the petitioner to carry out
amendment in the petition within two weeks from today.
The
foundation has sought guidelines to all States, UTs and academic institutions
as to ensure that students with disabilities participate equally with others in
online classes. The PIL has also sought protection and enforcement of the
fundamental right to equality and right to life of students with disabilities
with regard to the conduct of online classes and examinations by educational
institutions during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“The
universities, colleges are conducting online classes during the pandemic
without considering the various challenges faced by students with disabilities
and meeting their access needs and without providing reasonable accommodations
to them. Students with disabilities are in a deplorable state with no access to
lectures, study materials or assistance for those students who need
individualized support,” the plea said.
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