New Delhi: The Delhi High Court today constituted a committee to look into issues related to handicapped children and non-availability of specially trained teachers for disabled students in the schools run by MCD and NCT government.

Setting up a committee headed by the Secretary of Department of Education, Delhi government, a Division Bench of Chief Justice Ajit Prakash Shah and Justice S Muralidhar said besides two advocates, one officer from MCD and NDMC would also be the members of the committee.

The Bench also sought the committee to place before it the suggestions to overcome the problems faced by disabled children in the MCD and state government run schools.

The court order came while hearing a PIL filed by Social Jurists, an NGO, through counsel Ashok Aggrawal pointing that the children suffering from blindness, hearing impairment and mental retardation are deprived of their rights to get education which is their fundamental right.

Aggarwal submitted that a three-member team had visited various primary schools run by the MCD and the NCT government and the teachers had admitted before the team that they do not know how to teach the handicapped children.

"The failure on the part of authorities to provide quality education, attention and care to the children with disabilities tentamounts to violation of fundamental rights," the counsel submitted.

Seeking a barrier-free environment in schools, the lawyer submitted that the government should provide specially made toilets and ramps to the students with disabilities.

He further argued that the handicapped children should be given forthwith special books including reading and writing materials.
Source : PTI