CJI Surya Kant issues notice over systemic accessibility failures for 7 million disabled passengers
GS2Polity · Governance · IR· Vulnerable sections (SC/ST, minorities, disabled, elderly, children)· Prelims + Mains·
Right to Accessibility and inclusive infrastructure: a GS2 Social Justice and Public Policy case study.
Why in news
The Supreme Court issued a notice to the Ministry of Civil Aviation and other bodies over a petition alleging systemic accessibility failures for over seven million passengers with disabilities annually.
Background
A three-judge Bench led by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant is examining a plea by Turab Chimthanawala. The petition names the Ministry of Civil Aviation, DGCA, Airports Authority of India, CISF, and Digi Yatra Foundation as respondents.
Facts for Prelims
- BodyDGCA: Directorate General of Civil Aviation
- BodyCISF: Central Industrial Security Force
- FactThe petition alleges accessibility failures affecting over seven million passengers with disabilities annually
- PostSurya Kant: Chief Justice of India (as of October 2026)
Prelims practice question
Which body is named as a respondent in the petition regarding systemic accessibility failures for disabled passengers?
- (a)IRDAI
- (b)SEBI
- (c)DGCA
- (d)TRAI
Show answer
Answer: (c) DGCA — The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) is one of the respondents named in the petition.
For Mains
Q. Critically analyze the systemic barriers faced by persons with disabilities in public infrastructure and suggest measures to ensure inclusive aviation and transport systems.
Dimensions to cover in your answer
- Infrastructure gap: Lack of universal design standards in airport terminal layouts and boarding gates
- Regulatory oversight: Inadequate enforcement of accessibility mandates by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation
- Digital exclusion: Barriers in biometric and automated systems like Digi Yatra for visually impaired travelers
Keywords: Universal Design · Inclusive Infrastructure · Right to Accessibility · Systemic Barriers · Public Policy
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This note is generated automatically from SatyaDheesh's news feed and mapped to the UPSC CSE syllabus. Check facts against the original report or PIB before using them in an answer.