Following a petition by Jayant Singh Raghav, a visually impaired final-year student, the Delhi High Court has directed DU to conduct an accessibility audit of the Campus Law Centre. Raghav, a long-time advocate for improved facilities, emphasized the urgent need for ramps, tactile flooring, and assistive devices to ensure the campus is fully inclusive.
New Delhi: Delhi University’s Campus Law Centre remains challenging for students with disabilities due to its lack of accessible infrastructure. Essential features such as tactile flooring and indicators are absent, making it difficult for visually impaired and wheelchair users to navigate the campus, access classrooms, and use restrooms.
Following a petition by Jayant Singh Raghav, a visually impaired final-year student, the Delhi High Court has directed DU to conduct an accessibility audit of the Campus Law Centre. Raghav, a long-time advocate for improved facilities, emphasized the urgent need for ramps, tactile flooring, and assistive devices to ensure the campus is fully inclusive.
“The current facilities are grossly inadequate, limiting the mobility and independence of students with disabilities. Each disability requires specific assistance, which must be addressed,”
Raghav stated.
The court instructed DU to appoint an independent accessibility auditor to evaluate the existing infrastructure.
“To gain a comprehensive understanding of compliance with accessibility norms, the court deems it appropriate for the university to appoint an independent auditor to inspect the campus and submit a report on whether the mandated standards are being met,”
the court ordered.
This is not the first time Raghav has raised this issue. In 2022, he brought the matter to the Delhi High Court, leading to a March 2023 directive urging the Campus Law Centre to comply with the University Grants Commission’s Accessibility Guidelines for Higher Education Institutions. An audit conducted by a government-certified expert revealed that the campus lacked proper access routes for individuals with disabilities, with uneven and obstructed pathways further compounding the issue.
Although some renovations were carried out last year, many accessibility challenges remain.
A Campus Law Centre official acknowledged the ongoing problems, stating,
“While some improvements have been made, broken and insufficient facilities continue to hinder accessibility for students with disabilities.”
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