Nagpur High Court Demands Answers on Disabled Voter Transport
The Nagpur bench of the Bombay High Court voiced strong dissatisfaction on Monday. The court questioned the Nagpur Municipal Corporation about its failure to provide wheelchair-friendly e-bus services for disabled voters. This issue arose just days before the NMC polls scheduled for Thursday.
Court's Direct Questioning
"How will disabled voters reach polling centres? What arrangements have you made for them?" the court asked the NMC directly. The bench directed the civic body to file a detailed response within 24 hours. The court emphasized the urgency of the matter with elections approaching.
The observations came during a hearing of a public interest litigation. Advocate Prakash Andhare filed the petition seeking the launch of e-bus services for persons with disabilities. Justices Anil Kilor and Raj Wakode presided over the hearing.
NMC's Explanation and Court's Skepticism
The NMC informed the court about the medium-capacity electric buses it received under a central government scheme. These buses come equipped with hydraulic ramps for wheelchair access. However, the civic body admitted a critical problem.
Drivers and conductors have not received proper training to operate these ramps. The NMC argued that deploying untrained staff could create safety risks for disabled passengers. Therefore, using these buses during the civic elections seemed unfeasible.
The corporation told the court it made arrangements at polling booths to facilitate voting by persons with disabilities. Yet transporting these voters to the polling stations remained a significant challenge. The court questioned the adequacy of such partial measures.
The bench pointed out that facilities at booths alone proved insufficient. Senior citizens and disabled voters still needed to reach the polling centres. The court asked the NMC to clarify what alternative measures, if any, were being planned to assist these voters on polling day.Next Steps in the Case
The matter will be taken up again after the NMC submits its response. The court expects detailed information about concrete plans to ensure disabled voters can participate in the democratic process. This case highlights ongoing accessibility challenges in urban elections.
