Delhi High Court tells state government to make pavements in Delhi University accessible in 4 weeks

The Delhi High Court has directed the Delhi state government, police, and municipal corporation of north Delhi to take immediate action to make pavements in Delhi University’s North Campus disabled friendly within four weeks.

The high court noted that the pavements in the North Campus were inaccessible to people with disabilities.

This is especially in the case of people with vision impairments given the obstacles such as traffic lights, police posts, trees, and shops in the middle of footpaths.

The court said this after examining photographs and a report filed by the NGO, Nipman Foundation, that works to improve health and education facilities for people with disabilities.

The NGO had inspected 40 sites at the campus on the orders of the court to find out whether pavements were accessible to the disabled, especially the visually impaired.

The court said that many obstructions were in the middle of the tactile paths meant for blind people. It also noted that hand rails were put up randomly.

In its order, the bench directed the Delhi government’s Public Works Department (PWD), the municipal corporation, and the police to interact with the Chief Architect (Roads) of the New Delhi Municipal Council.

They have to come up with a plan to make sure the streets and pavements of North Campus were made disabled-friendly within four weeks.

The NGO, Nipman Foundation, has been asked to check the sites again after four weeks.

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