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The non-implementation of braille system puts such class of persons at a significant disadvantage as they cannot access public services, facilities, and infrastructures on an equal basis with others, the PIL states
The Supreme Court has agreed to hear a PIL seeking to formulate a policy regarding Implementation of Braille Integration System across all domains of public and private sectors.
A bench of CJI DY Chandrachud, Justice Pardiwala and Justice Manoj Misra has issued notice on the petition filed by one Medhansh Soni.
Formulation of a policy regarding embossing of information on consumer products, cosmetics, medical packets and travel tickets has also been sought.
The petition also seeks a direction to widely publicize the steps being actively taken, if any, in adopting new tools and techniques to reach the ultimate goals of self-support and independence of visually challenged.
Filed by Advocate Nishant Kumar, the petition submits that discrimination can manifest in any form, including indirect or hostile discrimination, which can be equally detrimental to individuals or groups, despite not being overtly apparent.
"India being the biggest democracy of the world for more than 70 years it is sad to note that the country is lacking behind other nations in providing them adequate facility to live life with dignity and equal opportunity even though the advent of brail and other supportive technologies have provided some succor against loss of vision...", top court has been told.
Arguing that the present institutional/administrative framework has effectively marginalized and excluded the said class of visually impaired people by not providing them with necessary accommodation and accessibility that the braille system offers, the plea adds,
"There is plethora of challenges faced by visually impaired persons includes (i) difficulty in identifying currency notes (ii) inability to read product labels and medicine management (iii) challenges in navigating public places (iv) barrier in accessing information. In addition to the above, the Demonitisation of currency notes, which drastically changed the size of currency notes, has added to the plight of visually impaired individuals. Consequently, such class of persons face barriers and limitations in their ability to participate fully and independently in various aspects of life due to absence of braille integration across different domainswhich have been neglected by the Authorities...".
Case Title: Medhansh Soni vs. Union of India and Ors
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