Accessibility In Courts: MP High Court Directs Audit Of Facilities For Women, Disabled, Chronically Ill And Senior Citizens

The Madhya Pradesh High Court has directed the Registrar General to file an audit report listing the amenities and facilities available to women, persons with disability, persons suffering from chronic disease and senior citizens in the High Court premises, District Court and Tehsil Court buildings, in a public interest litigation seeking adequate infrastructure and facilities. The division bench of Chief Justice Sanjeev Sachdeva and Justice Vinay Saraf directed; "Registrar General of the High Court shall also place on record an audit report with regard to various amenities and facilities made available to women, persons with disability, persons suffering from chronic disease and senior citizens in the High Court premises as well as in the premises of various District Court and Tehsil Court buildings within a period of four weeks from today". The PIL was filed by an advocate seeking directions to ensure that the High Court and District Courts provide adequate infrastructure and facilities for women, persons with disability, persons suffering from chronic diseases and senior citizens, in order to safeguard their fundamental rights and ensure meaningful access to justice.On the first hearing of January 5, 2026, the High Court permitted a specially-abled person to intervene in the matter. According to the petition, following the COVID-19 pandemic, the High Court in May 2021 had constituted an Accessibility Committee to address the barriers faced by lawyers and litigants with disability in accessing court premises. However, several issues allegedly continue to persist.It was stated that as of March 2025, only one gate of the High Court premises was permitted for the entry of litigants after Aadhaar verification. The gate opens onto the main road, where the litigants have to stand in a long queue for extended periods without any shade from the sun or the rain.The petition also highlighted the lack of feeding rooms and childcare facilities in court premises. A letter petition was also submitted to the High Court on June 2, 2025, relying on the Supreme Court judgment in the case of Maatr Sparsh- an Initiative by Avyaan Foundation vs Union Of India of 19 February, 2025, seeking the establishment of feeding rooms and childcare facilities. A reminder was also sent, but no action was taken by the administration.The petition thus sought directions for the concerned authorities to construct necessary facilities for specially abled persons, including installation of lifts, construction of ramps, provision of seating and resting areas and other essential amenities.The matter is listed on April 8, 2026, for further hearing. Case Title: Surendra Verma v State of Madhya Pradesh [WP-34380-2025]For High Court: Advocate Sandeep Kumar ShuklaFor State Legal Service Authority: Advocate Gurdeep Singh WadhwaFor Intervenor: Advocate Shubham ShuklaClick here to read/download the Order

Accessibility In Courts: MP High Court Directs Audit Of Facilities For Women, Disabled, Chronically Ill And Senior Citizens

Jayanti Pahwa

Tags