HC suggests govt to formulate necessary plans for safe travel of differently-abled individuals

Bengaluru, NT Bureau: The High Court of Karnataka on Tuesday directed the state government to create a plan with secure procedures to facilitate comfortable travel for differently-abled individuals, including visually impaired citizens.

The Court was hearing a public interest litigation (PIL) by advocate N Shreyas and Shreyas Global Trust for Social Causes. Shreyas, who is a visually challenged individual, argued the case himself as a party in person.

Shreyas argued that the respondents BMTC and KSRTC do not provide audio directions to visually challenged passengers.

The same is however provided by private cab aggregators who also provide a panic button NT Correspondent Bengaluru The High Court of Karnataka on Tuesday extended the interim protection granted to Aaj Tak editor Sudhir Chaudhary till October 9.

The HC bench of Justice Hemant Chandangoudar heard the counsel for Chaudhary, Uday Holla on the plea for quashing the FIR lodged against the journalist in the Seshadripuram police station and adjourned the hearing after extending the protection.

Chaudhary’s counsel argued that criticism of government policies is permissible and it does not attract the provision of Section 153A (promoting enmity on grounds of religion) under which Chaudhary is booked.

He also pointed out that since the report was published on September 11 there has been no violence which meant that people have taken it rightly.

The HC had earlier on September 15 directed the police not to take coercive action against Chaudhary.

The complaint was filed by Shivakumar S, the Assistant Administrative Officer of the Karnataka Minorities Development Corporation Limited alleging that Chaudhary in a news programme on Aaj Tak channel spread misinformation on a government scheme.

He was booked under and other sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). The Karnataka Government’s Swavalambi Sarathi Scheme provides a 50 per cent subsidy on bank loans obtained by religious minorities for purchase of commercial transport vehicles up to three lakh rupees.

The report on the project allegedly termed it a minority appeasement scheme. Don’t precipitate matter till Oct 9: HC on Aaj Tak editor Sudhir's plea Editor Sudhir-Chaudhary Aaj Tak for emergencies.

The staff of the public bus operators are also unable to help specially-abled persons during rush hours. The petitioner further pointed out that similar programs have been implemented in states like Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, and Telangana.

The bench of Chief Justice Prasanna B Varale and Justice Krishna S Dixit noted that the notice was issued to the Government on August 3, 2022, but it had failed to reply with its objections till now. The Court observed that the State was not taking a serious view of the situation.

Directing the State to formulate a policy that would be a ‘model to the nation’ the HC adjourned the hearing of the PIL by six weeks.