Today(on 26th February) A disabled woman has filed a lawsuit after facing repeated requests to walk and stand at Kolkata Airport. Despite her 75% leg disability, she was reportedly asked multiple times to stand during security checks, prompting legal action. The case highlights the need for improved accessibility and sensitivity towards individuals with disabilities at airports.
New Delhi: On Monday (26th February): The Supreme Court has taken notice of a plea concerning the mistreatment of a disabled woman at Calcutta airport and has requested a response from the Central government. The case, The petitioner brought to light the difficulties faced by the woman due to her disability.
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In a session presided over by Chief Justice of India (CJI) DY Chandrachud and Justices JB Pardiwala and Manoj Misra, the petitioner, a woman living with a lifelong disability, shared her distressing experience at the airport. Despite having a 75% disability in her legs, she was repeatedly asked to stand at the airport kiosk, receiving no assistance even though she was unable to do so.
The petitioner’s lawyer highlighted the lack of aid provided by the airport authorities, emphasizing that only male staff were available to assist, further complicating the situation for disabled travelers.
CJI Chandrachud instructed the petitioner to serve a copy of the petition to the Central government, expressing the court’s intention to establish a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for handling such cases in the future.
Background
Arushi Singh, the petitioner, recounted being asked to stand multiple times during the security check-in process at Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International airport. She regularly travels between Kolkata and Delhi for work purposes, enduring similar challenges each time.
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On the day of the incident, Arushi’s flight to Delhi was scheduled for 7.30 PM. However, she had to wait in her personal wheelchair for approximately 20 minutes before entering the terminal, as there was no assistance available to transfer her to the airline-provided wheelchair.
CASE TITLE: Aarushi Singh vs Union of India