Justice remains 'inaccessible' for 'Persons with Disabilities', says NCPEDP study

NEW DELHI: From inaccessible police stations and a policing system inadequately equipped to respond to concerns of persons with disabilities (PwDs) to inaccessible courtrooms and the justice system lacking crucial manpower like sign language interpreters and denying easy access to legal aid, a new report by National Centre for Promotion of Employment for Disabled People (NCPEDP) presents a grim picture of the situation on the ground.

The study “Status of access to justice for persons with disabilities” highlights significant systemic barriers preventing PwDs from accessing law enforcement, courts and legal aid in India, despite strong legal protections under Rights of Persons with Disabilities (RPwD) Act, 2016.

The report draws from a survey of 355 people, including those with disabilities, caregivers, disabled people’s organisations and family members of PwDs from 30 states and Union territories. These included 258 males and 96 females, with 1 individual preferring not to disclose their gender. The highest number of respondents came from Chhattisgarh, followed by Gujarat, Odisha, Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra.

The analysis also presents insights based on interviews with lawyers, field visits to police stations and data obtained through the Right to Information Act.

Nearly 72% of the survey respondents were unaware or only minimally aware of their entitlements under RPwD Act. Of those who needed to reach out to police, only 15% of respondents used an online portal to submit a police complaint. While they found the mode accessible, there were challenges like navigating the interface, delays in response, occasional technical glitches and concerns over follow-ups.

The findings reveal that 48.9% of respondents had visited a police station, 38% of them had gone there to file a complaint and 40% had visited for document verification or attestation.

As many as 56.5% of respondents reported facing infrastructure barriers like lack of ramps, lifts and wheelchairs while visiting a police station. Other barriers highlighted by them include lack of scribes for visually impaired persons, a negative attitude and communication issues. A significantly high percentage of respondents (52%) said the police were not approachable.

The field visits the report draws from were conducted at 13 police stations across Assam, Maharashtra and Gujarat -- five each in Assam and Maharashtra, and three in Gujarat.

Sharing their challenges, 69% of police officials cited lack of training as a major barrier in handling cases of PwDs, highlighting the need for structured capacity-building programmes.

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