Read Time: 05 minutes

Synopsis

The Delhi High Court has refused to interfere with the Indian Railway's decision to issue separate ID cards to disabled persons for availing concession instead of using the government-issued Unique Disability Identity (UDID) Card.

A division bench of Chief Justice Satish Chandra Sharma and Justice Subramonium Prasad while dismissing the PIL on the issue, noted that a policy decision was taken by Railways to issue a "Photo Identity Card" for disabled persons on the basis of disability certificates for purchase of concessional tickets and to ensure that they are not required to submit disability certificates whenever they buy a ticket.

The court said that the procedure adopted by the Railways was fair and transparent.

The bench was hearing a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by the National Platform for the Rights of the Disabled (NPRD) seeking to set aside a circular issued by the Indian Railways making it mandatory for disabled persons desirous of availing concessions for rail travel to procure a separate photo ID card issued by the railways.

The NPRD contended that apart from the validity of the disability certificate, the very purpose of the Unique Disability Identity Card (UDID) issued by the Department for Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (DEPwD) of being a “single document of identification, verification of the disabled for availing various benefits” stands defeated, with the railways adamant on issuing a separate ID card.

Notably, the DEPwD has made the possession of the Unique Disability Identity Card (UDID) mandatory for availing benefits under all central government schemes from April 1, 2023.

“In the considered opinion of this Court, the procedure adopted by the Railways is a fair and transparent procedure and in fact, the circular dated 19.03.2015 has been issued by the Railways to ensure that a disabled person is not required to show the disability certificate every time while buying a ticket,” it said in an order dated May 18.

The bench ordered, “This Court does not find any reason to interfere with the circular dated 19.03.2015 (introducing the photo identity card) issued by the Railways and, therefore, no further orders are required to be passed in the present PIL and the same stands disposed of accordingly.” 

Case Title: National Platform for the Rights of the Disabled (NPRD through its General Secretary) v. Ministry of Railways and Anr.