Karnataka High Court Issues 'Universal Accessibility' SOP, Mandates Govt & Private Buildings To Become Fully Accessible To Disabled Persons

The Karnataka High Court has issued a detailed Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for Universal Accessibility, mandating that all government buildings as well as private buildings such as schools, malls, hospitals, and transport hubs as well as digital platforms become fully accessible to persons with disabilities.

The single judge bench of Justice Suraj Govindaraj in his 465 page order issued the comprehensive SOP while dismissing a plea filed by a private school challenging an order by the State Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities to grant a teacher compensation for a disability arising out of the rescue of a student.

The SOP states that it is  issued by the court  in exercise of the power to issue directions in the public interest and to give effect to the statutory rights created by the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016 and the Rules, while acknowledging that Accessibility for persons with disabilities is a constitutional guarantee flowing from Articles 14, 15(1), 1991)(g), 21 among others. 

“…. Accessibility is NOT a welfare measure or a concession. It is a fundamental right flowing from Articles 14, 19 and 21 of our Constitution,” the Court declares in the SOP by relying on the apex court judgment in Kabir Paharia v. National Medical Commission (2025).

Application of SOP

The SOP applies to:

• Government Establishments including secretariat and department buildings; courts and tribunals at all levels; police stations and offices; revenue offices; panchayat offices and gram sabhagrihas; municipal offices etc. 
• Public Commercial Buildings: Shopping malls, commercial complexes, markets; cinema halls and multiplexes; auditoriums, conference halls, and performance venues; hotels, lodging houses, and service apartments; restaurants, cafes, and food establishments; banks, ATMs etc.
• Healthcare Facilities including rehab centres and mental health institutions
• Educational Institutions
• Transport Infrastructure including bus and metro stations, parking facilities; footpaths and pedestrian crossings etc,
• Religious and Cultural Places: Places of worship open to the public (temples, mosques, churches, gurudwaras, synagogues, and any other place of worship); museums; art galleries; heritage sites with public access; recreational parks; sports complexes; community halls.
• Residential and Housing Developments: Apartment complexes and multi-storey residential buildings (common areas and common facilities); gated communities; group housing projects; senior living facilities; worker hostels and dormitories; student hostels.
• Digital and Virtual Platforms:  All Government websites and mobile applications; e-governance portals and e-office systems; court filing and case management systems; online grievance systems; public kiosks and interactive terminals; smart-city platforms etc, and  All private establishments providing digital services to the public (banking portals, e-commerce, health portals, educational platforms) are strongly directed to adopt digital accessibility standards and shall comply fully once regulations are framed under the Act.

Scope

The SOP shall apply universally to all categories of establishments, all public buildings, all specified disabilities, all persons regardless of age or gender, throughout the State of Karnataka. Further the SOP is transitional and shall operate as binding directions of this Court until the appropriate Government frames comprehensive statutory rules under Sections 40 and 45 of the Act.

 These directives would be “in addition to and not in substitution for, any existing obligation under the Act, the National Building Code, or the Harmonised Guidelines, 2021”, the bench clarified.

Timelines

The court has also mandated key timelines within which certain aspects of the SOP should be strictly implemented across the state's institutions and enterprises:

1. 3 months: Designate Liaison Officers, create internal grievance mechanisms.
2. 6 months: Frame EOPs, constitute District Accessibility Committees, install ramps and accessible toilets, frame State accessibility rules.
3. 12 months: Full physical accessibility in all public buildings, launch Unified Accessibility Compliance Portal, complete initial accessibility audits.
4. 24 months: Audible traffic signals, full digital accessibility certification.

For buildings

No building permission shall be granted nor certificate of completion issued unless the building plan adheres to accessibility rules for new constructions. Meanwhile all existing public buildings shall be made fully accessible within five years from the date of notification of accessibility rules by the appropriate Government, in accordance with Section 45 of the Act.

HERITAGE STRUCTURES: Heritage buildings protected under the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, 1958 or equivalent State legislation shall achieve the maximum feasible level of accessibility compliance without structural compromise. Specific guidelines for heritage buildings are set out in Schedule D of this SOP.

RURAL INFRASTRUCTURE: Gram panchayat offices, primary health centres, anganwadis, rural schools, and rural transport hubs shall comply with simplified but meaningful accessibility standards as set out in Part 12 of this SOP.

Key features

• The SOP mandates minimum physical standards (ramp gradient 1:12, corridor width 1500 mm, accessible toilet dimensions 1500 * 2000 mm, lift cab 1100 *1400 mm, service counters with Service counters with at least one section at 760-900 mm height with knee clearance).

• The court also underscored the necessity of following minimum digital standards such as WCAG 2.1 Level AA, Indian Sign Language support etc. All government websites and apps must be screen-reader compatible, fully keyboard navigable, with captions for audio-visual content, the court adds in the SOP part of the order.
• The Malls & Multiplexes should have accessible cinema seating (min. 1% of seats), induction loops, accessible trial rooms, the court adds.
• At least one accessible toilet per floor used by the public, staff, students, or visitors. Standards: clear floor space 1500 mm × 2000 mm; outward-opening/sliding door with 900 mm clear width; L-shaped grab bars adjacent to WC; wash basin at 700-750 mm with knee clearance; lever taps; non-slip floor; low mirror; all accessories within reach. Gender-neutral accessible toilets shall be provided wherever feasible, to accommodate transgender persons with disabilities and persons requiring attendant assistance.
• Along with that, hospitals should have accessible OPD registration, sign language interpreters, accessible examination tables. Moreover, hotels must have at least one accessible guest room per 50 rooms, the SOP states further.
• Ground-floor wheelchair-accessible classrooms, disabled-friendly washrooms, transport allowance for staff with disabilities, online teaching etc. in schools must be ensured, the court directs in the SOP.
• For buildings, the court mandates Areas of Rescue Assistance (ARAs) on each floor, trained evacuation assistants, evacuation chairs, and bi-annual drills by involving persons with disabilities.
• Similarly, for rural areas, the court mandates step-free entrance, at least one accessible toilet per facility, non-slip ramps, and accessible service counters at gram panchayat offices, PHCs, Anganwadis, and rural schools.
• An Internal Grievance Redressal Mechanism must be constituted in every establishment for complaints regarding accessibility drawbacks, and if the said committee does not respond, the aggrieved could approach the Commissioner for PwDs U/s S.82(2) of the Act.

State Accessibility Authority

The Court has also directed the Chief Secretary of Karnataka to establish a State Accessibility Authority (SAA) within six months, and District Accessibility Committees in every district. The government must frame comprehensive accessibility rules under Sections 40 and 45 of the Pwd Act within six months, and amend all municipal building bye-laws within nine months accordingly.

Penalty

Penalties enumerated for violations include fines, daily continuing penalties, suspension of trade licences, and criminal prosecution under Section 89 of the PwD Act.

Occupancy Certificate for Public Buildings

The court has also mandated in the SOP that no occupancy certificate shall be issued for any public building unless it has undergone a final accessibility audit by an empanelled auditor through which it is found compliant.

“…This requirement is non-negotiable and no waiver shall be granted…”, the court further clarified.

Further No trade licence shall be renewed for an establishment in a public building that has not achieved accessibility compliance.

The court issued the SOP while confirming an order directing a private school to pay Rs 10 lakhs within 3 months as future treatment expenses to a teacher, previously employed with the private institution. She had acquired 90% PP1 locomotor disability in 2013 while trying to save a Class VI student threatening to jump off from a school building. 

Case Title: PSBB Learning Leadership Academy v. Mrs. Barnali Rout & Ors.

Case No: Writ Petition No. 11351 of 2020 (GM‑RES)

Click Here To Read/Download Order