The Delhi High Court on Tuesday issued notices to the Delhi University (DU) and the University Grants Commission (UGC) and on a plea, seeking an adequate and effective mechanism for the education of persons with disabilities amid the coronavirus lockdown.
The court had earlier issued notice to the Ministry of Human Resource Development and Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, asking them to file a counter affidavit within five days stating measures they are proposing to take, The Indian Express reports.
“In view of the fact that the University of Delhi and the University Grants Commission have been permitted to be impeded only today, orders on this writ petition and the applications are deferred,” said the bench.
The court, while differing the matter to June 24, said that fresh affidavits shall be filed by the respondents within two weeks with copies to the counsel for the petitioners, who may file rejoinders thereto, within one week thereafter.
“We may note that the reply affidavits filed by the HRD Ministry and the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment do not deal with the issue raised in the present petition, in any manner. The said respondents are directed to file fresh affidavits focusing only on the issue raised in the present petition and not on the previous decisions taken by the Ministry in general for dealing with the educational requirements of university students with disabilities,” the court said in its order.
The plea, moved by two law students Prateek Sharma and Diksha Singh, stated that due to the COVID-19 outbreak, the universities, schools and colleges and other educational institutions are engaged in online teachings; however, no efforts have been made by the government to consider the need of persons with disabilities.
The petitioner-in-person also sought an interim relief that the mid-term evaluation as the UGC guidelines must be stayed till such guidelines and mechanism are set-up and put in place.
