Centre's response sought on plea raising issue of assistance to persons with disabilities

Supreme Court asks Centre to respond to plea for 25% higher assistance to persons with disabilities than others under similar schemes. Bench headed by CJ issues notice to Centre & requests ASG to assist.

The Supreme Court on September 25 asked the Centre to respond to a plea which sought that quantum of assistance to persons with disabilities should be 25% higher than those given to others under similar social welfare schemes.

A Bench headed by Chief Justice D.Y. Chandrachud issued notice to the Centre seeking its response on the petition filed by Delhi-based organisation ‘Bhumika Trust’ and posted the matter for hearing after four weeks.

The Bench, also comprising Justices J.B. Pardiwala and Manoj Misra, requested Additional Solicitor General Aishwarya Bhati to assist the Supreme Court in the matter.

The Supreme Court noted the petitioner has relied on the proviso to section 24 (1) of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016.

Section 24 of the 2016 Act deals with social security and Section 24 (1) says, “The appropriate government shall within the limit of its economic capacity and development formulate necessary schemes and programmes to safeguard and promote the right of persons with disabilities for adequate standard of living to enable them to live independently or in the community: provided that the quantum of assistance to the persons with disabilities under such schemes and programmes shall be at least 25% higher than the similar schemes applicable to others.” Jayant Singh Raghav, president of the organisation, told the Bench that proviso to Section 24 (1) of the Act provides that quantum to be provided to the persons with disabilities needs to be 25% additional to the others under similar social welfare schemes.

“Which are the schemes in respect of which you are claiming a 25% enhancement,” the Bench asked.

Mr. Raghav referred to the disability pension given by different States.