Supreme Court Dismisses Plea for Disability Reservation in Elections

The Supreme Court dismissed a plea for a two per cent reservation for persons with disability in elections. The bench, led by Justices B R Gavai and Augustine George Masih, addressed the matter as a policy issue. The court is prioritizing accessible infrastructure for disabled individuals.

In a significant decision on Friday, the Supreme Court dismissed a petition seeking a two per cent reservation in parliamentary, assembly, and gram panchayat elections for persons with disability.

The bench, comprising Justices B R Gavai and Augustine George Masih, determined that such a directive pertains to policy decisions rather than judicial mandates. The justices indicated willingness to consider matters related to employment but deemed election reservation as beyond their purview.

Emphasizing the court's commitment to accessibility, the bench acknowledged that public offices must facilitate access for disabled individuals, mandating infrastructure such as lifts and ramps. Last November, the apex court mandated meaningful access to public spaces through adaptive infrastructure measures.

(With inputs from agencies.)