Two non-governmental organizations have approached the Punjab and Haryana High Court through a public interest litigation (PIL) challenging the question bank-based syllabus adopted for visually impaired students in Punjab.
PIL Filed by NGOs
The Saksham Punjab and Udan Empowerment Trust (Radio Udan) filed the PIL through their advocate Abhijeet Singh Rawaley. They stated that the issue raised is of grave constitutional and statutory importance concerning the right of visually impaired students to receive inclusive and equal education on par with able-bodied students.
The petitioners argued that the Punjab School Education Board's (PSEB) question bank-based examination system for visually impaired students studying in Classes IX to XII is discriminatory. They emphasized that this system deprives these students of a comprehensive education and violates their fundamental rights.
Legal Challenge
The PIL seeks the court's intervention to ensure that visually impaired students are provided with a syllabus and examination system that is equivalent to that of their sighted peers. The NGOs contend that the current system undermines the principles of equality and inclusion enshrined in the Constitution of India.
The case is expected to be heard in the coming weeks, and it may set a precedent for the education of differently-abled students across the state.
