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 SOPThe 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 institutionsEducational InstitutionsTransport 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.ScopeThe 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.TimelinesThe court has also mandated key timelines within which certain aspects of the SOP should be strictly implemented across the state's institutions and enterprises:3 months: Designate Liaison Officers, create internal grievance mechanisms.6 months: Frame EOPs, constitute District Accessibility Committees, install ramps and accessible toilets, frame State accessibility rules.12 months: Full physical accessibility in all public buildings, launch Unified Accessibility Compliance Portal, complete initial accessibility audits.24 months: Audible traffic signals, full digital accessibility certification.For buildingsNo 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...

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

Sebin James

The SOP shall apply to all government establishments, private buildings, hospitals, banks, as well as digital and virtual platforms

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

Sebin James

The SOP shall apply to all government establishments, private buildings, hospitals, banks, as well as digital and virtual platforms

This is a premium content Available exclusively to Our subscribers

INR 1099+GST

Tags

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