The Bombay High Court on Tuesday constituted a three-member committee to examine whether airports across India are adequately equipped to cater to the needs of senior citizens and persons with disabilities, particularly in relation to the availability of wheelchairs and mobility support.
The committee will be chaired by retired Justice Goda Raghuram, a former judge of the Andhra Pradesh High Court, and will also include a senior official from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA). The order was passed by a Division Bench of Justices GS Kulkarni and Advait M Sethna.
Court Calls Committee
“We are constituting a committee. An effective committee. Very, very useful. We don’t think there is anything adverse in this. In fact, it is going to be useful for DGCA,” said the Court, while addressing Additional Solicitor General (ASG) Anil Singh, who appeared on behalf of the DGCA.
DGCA Welcomes
Following the court’s direction, the DGCA also acknowledged that the formation of the committee would be beneficial. According to the court’s order, the committee is expected to deliberate on the concerns raised during hearings, consult with petitioners, affected travelers, and relevant stakeholders, and propose essential norms to improve travel experiences for senior citizens and wheelchair users.
Wheelchair Shortages At Airports
The matter is based on two petitions currently before the court. One of them was filed by an 81-year-old woman and her daughter, who reported facing significant distress at the Mumbai International Airport in September 2023 due to a shortage of wheelchair assistance. According to the petition, the elderly woman had to give up her own wheelchair for her daughter, who suffers from acute arthritis, as only one mobility aid was provided upon arrival.
Another petitioner, a 53-year-old man, highlighted similar concerns about inadequate support services at the airport for passengers with limited mobility.
During the hearing on April 21, the Bench expressed serious concern over the lack of proper infrastructure and services for senior citizens and specially-abled persons at airports. “Nobody should suffer,” Justice Kulkarni remarked during the proceedings.
In response to the complaints, the DGCA submitted an affidavit stating that over-booking of assistance requests was the reason for the shortage of wheelchairs. However, the court firmly rejected this explanation, stressing the need for accountability and preparedness in providing such essential services.
Committee To Submit
When the matter was taken up again on April 22, the High Court clarified that the role of the newly constituted committee would be recommendatory and not adversarial. It further emphasized that it would be the responsibility of the DGCA to review the committee’s suggestions and take appropriate action in accordance with the law.
The case will come up for further hearing on June 30, when the court is expected to review initial inputs or progress made by the committee.
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