Mumbai: The Bombay High Court on Tuesday asked the Maharashtra government for the measures it has taken to implement its decision to strengthen the education of disabled people by disseminating programs with sign language interpreters.
A division bench comprising Chief Justice D K Upadhyaya and Justice Amit Borkar asked the Center how the state government's decision could be implemented.
In 2021, the state government, to strengthen the education of disabled students, took decisions such as reserving time slots for educational broadcasts provided by Doordarshan and Aakashvani.
The school's education and sports department would facilitate this initiative with the help of sign language interpreters, and the programs would be aired on DD Sahyadri channel for two hours, in the morning and afternoon.
The programs were to include video clips with sign language interpreters, making them accessible to disabled students.
In an affidavit filed in February 2022, the state maintained that it did not have the required budget of Rs 4 crore.
The government further stated that a television broadcast would mean that if students miss the programme, they will not be able to watch it again and therefore a better option would be to upload videos to YouTube.
However, he stated that there are no funds available to prepare such educational programs for YouTube.
The court directed the state government to file a fresh affidavit, stating the steps it has taken to implement the decisions.
"The central government will also have to file an affidavit as to how the decision taken by the state government can be implemented," the court said.
Affidavits must be submitted within six weeks.
The court passed the order while hearing a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by NGO 'Anamprem', raising concerns over the problems faced by students with disabilities amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
The NGO sought directions to the Center and state governments to implement the Right of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016.
A division bench comprising Chief Justice D K Upadhyaya and Justice Amit Borkar asked the Center how the state government's decision could be implemented.
In 2021, the state government, to strengthen the education of disabled students, took decisions such as reserving time slots for educational broadcasts provided by Doordarshan and Aakashvani.
The school's education and sports department would facilitate this initiative with the help of sign language interpreters, and the programs would be aired on DD Sahyadri channel for two hours, in the morning and afternoon.
The programs were to include video clips with sign language interpreters, making them accessible to disabled students.
In an affidavit filed in February 2022, the state maintained that it did not have the required budget of Rs 4 crore.
The government further stated that a television broadcast would mean that if students miss the programme, they will not be able to watch it again and therefore a better option would be to upload videos to YouTube.
However, he stated that there are no funds available to prepare such educational programs for YouTube.
The court directed the state government to file a fresh affidavit, stating the steps it has taken to implement the decisions.
"The central government will also have to file an affidavit as to how the decision taken by the state government can be implemented," the court said.
Affidavits must be submitted within six weeks.
The court passed the order while hearing a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by NGO 'Anamprem', raising concerns over the problems faced by students with disabilities amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
The NGO sought directions to the Center and state governments to implement the Right of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016.
