Disability rights:
On Monday, the case on the issue of stray animals and service animals was listed in the Delhi High Court. On stray animals, the Court stated that the status report filed by the Chief Secretary, GNCTD was sketchy and did not furnish particulars on how exactly they were implementing the action plan chalked out in previous meetings. They were directed to file a better status report. On the issue of service animals, the Court rebuked the DEPwD for simply shirking off the obligation to frame norms for regulation of service animals and asked them to formulate guidelines in this regard and place them on record.
On Tuesday, we had 2 matters listed. The first was a case in the Bombay High Court concerning a medical pg aspirant who was able to secure admission after Dr. Singh’s report. Through our local counsel, we made suggestions as set out by Dr. Singh, to prevent such cases from arising in future and prayed that NMC be directed to consider them. The Court asked NMC to consider these suggestions and come back by the next date.
Secondly, in the Delhi High Court, Harshdeep’s case was listed. This case is one of a candidate who has failed many of his law exams due to disability-induced poor handwriting. On Tuesday, the Court ordered revaluation of the 3 papers that he had failed in his last semester but not of any of the other papers that the candidate had failed. Importantly, it refused to grant any interim relief of allowing the candidate to sit for the 5th sem exams, saying that he was never given admission in the 5th sem itself. We have challenged this by way of an appeal which should come up shortly.
On Wednesday, 2 matters were listed. The first was the Supreme Court case concerning the ability of 2 blind candidates to appear for the AIBE on the computer. The BCI tried to avoid giving these petitioners the opportunity to also give their answers on the computer, stating that this would create difficulties. However, after we explained to the Court how this could be done with minimal difficulty, the Court directed them to allow the petitioners. Later, the BCI sought to have a separate exam for these persons one week after the main exam, citing logistical issues with the computer route, but the Court said that they will then stay the whole exam altogether.
Secondly, Suyash Patil’s matter was listed in the Bombay High Court – the candidate with speech and hearing impairment who has been the victim of a tragedy of errors. The case was not taken up and got renotified to a date in January.
On Thursday, 2 matters were listed. The first was the West Bengal teachers’ matter in the Supreme Court which could not be taken up then. That matter was heard all day today.
The second was Deepak Rai’s matter in the Bombay High Court who is a masters in biotech student at IIT Bombay whose grievance is that IIT Bombay is failing to provide him an enabling environment. That matter could not be taken up and got renotified to 16th December.
On Friday, Rekha Sharma’s matter was listed in the Supreme Court. She is a candidate for the Rajasthan Judiciary Exams in the 2024 cycle who did not get appointed due to the fixation of an arbitrary cutoff by Rajasthan Judiciary. The matter was listed for January after the parties complete their pleadings.
Other human rights work:
On Thursday, Devika’s case was listed in the Delhi High Court. She is an EWS child whose admission in the school that she was allotted was rejected by the school on the ground that they had no seats left. After we filed the case, the Education Department allotted her another school and the case was closed on that basis.
On Friday, a contempt case filed by us with respect to two students in the EWS category not getting their entitlements, like books and uniforms was listed. Finally now, they have gotten part of their entitlements but some aspects still remain. We also filed a fresh case on behalf of a child in the EWS category who was not given the allotted school by the school authorities.