Persons with Disabilities (Equal Opportunities, Protection of Rights and Full Participation) Act, 1995 - Public Interest
Litigation - By a differently abled person - Alleging that she was
de-boarded from aircraft (of private airlines) due to her disability -
Plea that the act resulted in agony, humiliation and emotional trauma
- And it amounted to violence to her human dignity and infringed
her fundamental rights guaranteed u/Art. 14 and 21 of the
Constitution - Held: The problems of the differently a bled are to be
viewed from human rights perspective - Persons with disabilities
do not need sympathy but are entitled to enjoy the full range of
internationally guaranteed rights and freedom without discrimination
on the ground of disability - It is obligatory on the part of the State
to ensure that persons with disabilities get enabled to exercise those
rights - There should be a full recognition of the fact that persons
with disability are integral part of the community, equal in dignity
and entitled to enjoy the same human rights and freedoms as others
- The Act encapsulates the Governments obligation to ensure that
those with disabilities can achieve their full potential free from any
discrimination and harassment - The Act specifically deals with
transportation system, including airports and aircrafts - Various
international legal instruments also guarantee the rights of the
disabled - The obligation to fulfill the right of the disabled not
limited to the Government, but even the private entities m:e fastened
with such obligation - The rights guaranteed under the Act and the
instructions under Civil Aviation Requirements are founded on the
sound principles of human dignity which is the core value of human
rights enshrined u/Art. 21 - In the present case, the decision to deboard_the petitioner amounts to violation of r.133-A of Aircraft Rules,
1937 and Civil Aviation Requirements, 2008 guidelines and is also
in violation of her human dignity and thus her fundamental rights,
though by a private enterprise - The erring airlines is directed to award Rs. I 0 lakhs to the petitioner as damages - Constitution of
India - Arts. 14 and 21 - Human Rights - Aircraft Rules, 1937 -
United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
-Arts. 5 and 9 - Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties, 1963 -
Art. 27 - Biwako Millenium Framework for Action Towards an
Inclusive, Barrier-Free and Rights-Based Society for Persons With
Disabilities in Asia and the Pacific - Beijing Conclave by the
Governments of Asian and Pacific Countries.
Human Rights - Human dignity - Constitution of India
guarantees human rights through its Fundamental Rights - One
such right is enshrined u/Art. 21 i.e. right to life and liberty which
includes right to live with dignity - Thus human dignity is a
constitutional value and a constitutional goal - Even right to equality
is based on the value of human dignity - Jn international human
rights law. equality is founded upon two complementary principles:
non-discrimination and reasonable differentiation - Constitution
of India - Arts. 14 and 21.