The Delhi High Court today came out with a set of directives aimed at making air and rail travel hassle-free for the physically challenged — ordering the Railways to ensure that wheelchairs are available at all stations across the country and asking airlines to list special provisions on their services.
Justices Vijender Jain and Rekha Sharma, hearing a PIL filed by the Disabled Rights Group (DRG), said station masters ‘‘would be held personally liable if they failed to provide wheelchairs for the benefit of physically challenged persons’’.
The court also brought six private airlines under its scanner on the issue after the Airports Authority of India (AAI) submitted that the provision of special facilities on aircrafts is the responsibility of the airlines. The court issued notices to Indian, Jet Airways, Sahara Airlines, Air Deccan, SpiceJet and Kingfisher Airlines, seeking the provisions available to the physically-challenged on their aircraft.
Not allowing AAI to wash its hands of the issue, the court directed it to explain the facilities being created for the physically challenged in its 20-year modernisation plan for airports in the country. An affidavit will be filed by the next date of hearing.
Similarly, the Railway Ministry too, has been directed to outline a detailed report on disabled-friendly services — special coaches, drinking water and other amenities. It will be placed before the court within four months.
The DRG’s petition had alleged that there are no adequate access and special facilities for the physically challenged in public areas/spaces, despite Constitutional guarantees in this regard.
AAI: Providing wheelchairs responsibility of airlines
Asked about the facilities now available for the disabled at the airport, B N Singh, Terminal Manager of the Airports Authority of India said, “It is the responsibility of the airlines to provide wheelchairs to disabled passengers. We do not keep any wheelchairs ourselves. However, we are responsible for ensuring that the airlines provide these wheelchairs when required. The airlines are permitted to charge for this service, though only the low-cost carriers do. We also have ramps and toilets in place for wheelchair users.’’
What the airlines say
SPICEJET The company charges an additional Rs 600 per ticket for disabled passengers. But SpiceJet does not guarantee the availability of wheelchairs, a booking official said. She said, ‘‘We have enough wheelchairs for a normal day and in case of a problem, we can reach arrangements for borrowing wheelchairs from other airlines. However, we can not guarantee that a disabled person will be provided with a wheelchair, if they haven’t mentioned it in advance.”
Air Deccan According to Air Deccan’s website, a wheelchair user has to pay Rs 500 above the cost of the ticket and the airline has to be notified at the time of booking. And, if there are four bookings on a flight, then a fifth booking is not allowed. A company spokesperson said that in case of group bookings an ‘‘arrangement can be reached,’’ adding, ‘‘It is very unusual to have five people with wheelchairs all on one flight.’’
Other airlines including Kingfisher provide services like escorting the wheelchair user to the parking lot and guiding them throughout the check-in process.