Delhi HC: What steps to help disabled take DU exams?

NEW DELHI: Concerned about the plight of disabled students who wish to take Delhi University exams, Delhi high court on Thursday asked the ministry of railways to consider arranging their travel to the national capital.


A bench of Justices Hima Kohli and Subramonium Prasad said the Centre may also examine the feasibility of issuing confirmed tickets to such students at subsidised rates at least five days before the second round of exams starts on September 14. It directed the human resource development and social justice and empowerment ministries to collectively approach the railways ministry and request for arranging travel of students in the persons with disability (PWD) category from far off places like Bihar, Chhattisgarh and eastern UP to Delhi to appear in exams through physical or online mode.

The bench directed the three ministries to file separate affidavits on the steps taken by them and listed the matter for further hearing on September 1.

It noted that PWD and visually impaired students may indicate to DU if they want to appear physically or submit papers through email and avail scribes.

The court was, meanwhile, informed by DU that results of those students who appeared for online open-book examinations (OBE)would be declared at the end of October, if things went as per plan.

The high court is hearing petitions, including one filed by National Federation of Blind seeking to set up effective mechanisms for visually impaired and PWD students so that instructions and teaching material reach them properly during the Covid-19 pandemic.

The online exam for final-year undergraduate students began from August 10 and will end on August 31. The students, who will be left out of online exams, will be given an opportunity to appear in physical examinations scheduled from September 14.

Senior advocate SK Rungta, appearing for National Federation of Blind, said the court may see if the central government or DU can bear the cost of transportation of students and he will provide them food and accommodation.

Senior advocate Sachin Dutta, representing DU, informed the court that the figures will show that 90% students in the PWD category have appeared in the online OBE.

But Rungta maintained that DU does not have the data of PWD students and according to his information, about 222 students in this category did not sit for the online exams.