LEGAL RIGHTS OF DISABLED PERSONS IN INDIA

Despite the presence of an impressive normative framework, the reality of disability in India is one of exclusion. This blog analyses the legal framework that ensures protection of the rights of persons with disabilities. Tracing the constitutional foundations in Articles 14, 15, 21, and Directive Principles of State Policy, the blog proceeds to analyse how the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016 transformed the recognition of disability types from seven to twenty-one and adopted the rights-based approach as espoused by the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. The important judicial decisions relating to the issue include Jeeja Ghosh, Vikash Kumar v. UPSC, and Disabled Rights Group v. Union of India. Governmental schemes such as the Sugamya Bharat Abhiyan and UDID project are also discussed in the blog.