| Reserve
Hotels in New Delhi Reserve Hotels in Agra |
|
Travel Sites Visit
Goa, Karnataka,
Kerala, Tamil
Nadu, Andhra
Pradesh |
Notice to six airlines over facility to handicapped
New
Delhi: The Delhi High Court today issued notices to six airlines seeking
explanation as to why no special provisions were being provided to physically
challenged persons in their respective aircraft. The six airlines - Indian
Airlines, Jet Airways, Sahara Airlines, Air Deccan, Spice Jet and Kingfisher
Airlines were issued notices after the Airport Authority of India (AAI)
took a stand that provision of special facilities in flights, besides
ambulances was the responsibility of the individual airlines. The bench
passed a number of directions while dealing with a public interest litigation
filed by the disabilities rights group. In the PIL, the disabilities rights
group has alleged that there were no adequate access and special facilities
for persons with disabilities in public spaces, despite the Constitutional
guarantees accorded to them in this regard. The court has asked AAI to
file an affidavit explaining the provision proposed for persons with disabilities
under the 20- year modernisation plan of airports in the country. Besides,
a division bench of Justice Vijender Jain and Justice Rekha Sharma also
passed a direction to the Railway Ministry to forthwith ensure availability
of wheelchairs in all railway stations across the country. Further, the
court added that station-masters would be held personally responsible
if they failed to provide wheelchairs to the physically challenged persons
at the stations. The court has given four months time to the Railway Ministry
to file a detailed report on the steps being taken to provide succour
to physically challenged persons in terms of special coaches, drinking
water and other amenities.
-Feb
20, 2006