AJAY MEHNDIRATTA Vs. UNION OF INDIA & ORS.

JUDGEMENT

(1.) In this writ petition, which is in the nature of Public Interest Litigation, the petitioner is espousing the cause of all those persons who are suffering from disability within the meaning of Sec. 2 (i) of the Persons with Disabilities (Equal Opportunity, Non Discrimination and Full Participation) Act, 1995 (hereinafter referred to as "the Disability Act").

(2.) The respondent no. 1/Railways has given certain concessions on regular tickets to certain persons suffering from specific kind of disability and procedure to get such concession is also prescribed. The petitioner seeks mandamus directing the respondent to extend the said policy of concession on railway ticket to all disabled persons who fulfill the conditions under Sec. 2 (i) of the Disability Act.

(3.) The Railways formulated its policy granting certain concession in railway fares, details whereof are contained in IRCA Coaching Tariff, Part I (Vol.II). Though, copy of such concession policy is not placed on record, the petitioner has filed the copy of "General Rules for Concession", as Annexure -A. These General Rules relate to concession for students, sr. citizens, war widows, sports persons and various other categories. It is stated that the Railway is presently granting concession to the following categories of disabled persons: