V. Jegarasasingham, Secretary of the Ministry of Social Services and Social Welfare, has sought rectification or clarification in a fundamental rights petition heard of last month by the Supreme Court related to making public places accessible to disabled persons. In a motion filed by the Attorney-General, the Secretary has moved that the same Bench that took up the petition be assigned to make the rectification or clarification.
Granting interim relief to petitioner Dr. Ajith C. S. Perera, the Bench, comprising Chief Justice Asoka de Silva and Justices S. Marsoof and I. Immam, directed that no disabled person be discriminated against or restricted in gaining access to new public buildings.
Ms. Jegarasasingham has declined to comment on the rectification or clarification sought from Court.
The Court also held that the owners of public places were equal partners and therefore equally responsible for providing accessibility to disabled persons in buildings at public places.
Dr. Perera, who represented himself at the fundamental rights petition hearing, asked the court to direct the authorities to provide facilities to help disabled persons. He named more than 50 government ministers who had failed to implement the Disabilities Act. He told court that despite an order issued a few years back and due to expire in October this year, nothing constructive had been done to improve facilities for the disabled.
Meanwhile, in a statement issued last week, the Ministry of Social Services and Social Welfare said it would extend the grace period for another five years for government institutions to make their buildings and spaces disabled friendly.
According to the Accessibility Regulations gazetted on October 17, 2006, existing public buildings should be made disabled-friendly before October 17, 2009. |
E-mail