P. RAMKUMAR Vs. STATE OF TAMIL NADU

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The petitioner having suffered 100% visual disability, knocks the doors of this Court with this Public Interest Litigation, for issuance of mandamus, directing the respondents to take immediate action to bring out Braille Version of Thirukkural in Tamil and English languages with standard interpretation to ensure the visually challenged people to read, recite and enjoy the essence of Thirukkural on their own, within a time frame to be stipulated by this Court.

(2.) Before embarking upon the grievance of the petitioner, pertinently, it is to be pointed out that we are in the era of a global 'book famine', which means non-availability of books and printed works in an accessible format for the people with 'print disabilities' including the visually challenged. It was coined in the context of adoption of 'Marrakesh Treaty' to facilitate access to published works for persons, who are blind, visually impaired or otherwise print disabled. The 'Marrakesh Treaty' focuses on addressing the intellectual property (copyright) barriers, besides highlights the dearth of accessibility of books to the persons with disabilities and the importance of breaking such barriers to eradicate the 'book famine'. The present Public Interest Litigation reflects a situation of book famine, qua braille form of Thirukkural in Tamil and English languages, for the visually challenged persons.

(3.) According to the petitioner, who is a B.A. L.L.B. (Hons) degree holder; and is doing L.L.M. and research works in the law relating to differently abled pesons, Thirukkural is an ancient didactic literature in Tamil language written by the great saint Thiruvalluvar more than 2000 years ago and it has been recognized as a Book of Virtue by the World. It is the only ancient non-religious literature of virtues, moral and ethical values and that, every couplet teach the principles to lead a noble life. That was the reason, this masterpiece has been translated into all the Indian languages and many of the foreign languages.