SC junks plea seeking reservation in polls for disabled
New Delhi, Mar 28 (PTI): The Supreme Court on Friday dismissed a plea seeking a two per cent reservation in parliamentary, assembly and gram panchayat elections for persons with disability.
A bench of Justices B R Gavai and Augustine George Masih said, "How can we issue such a direction? This is a matter of policy."
The bench went on to ask the petitioner, who appeared in person, "Had it be with regard to employment or something, we could have considered it. But how can we direct this?"
The petitioner referred to the apex court's November 8 2024 order which directed the Centre to implement mandatory accessibility standards within three months.
The bench said if the disabled were not getting access to any public offices, the top court was ensuring that the same be made possible.
The court, the bench observed, has said there should be lifts and ramps in public offices so that disabled did not find any difficulty in access.
"We are not inclined to entertain this petition. The writ petition is, accordingly, dismissed," the bench held.
The plea sought a direction to the Centre and others to provide reservation in elections, preferably two per cent, for persons with disability.
In its order passed in November last year in a separate matter, the apex court underscored the necessity of "meaningful access" for persons with disability to public spaces and mandated a two-pronged approach -- adapting existing infrastructures to accessibility standards, and ensuring that all new infrastructure is designed to be inclusive from the outset.
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KSRTC to run 1000 special services to clear Christmas rush
Bengaluru: The Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation will operate 1000 additional special services in view of the Christmas festival.
In addition to the existing schedule, the special services will run on 19.12.2025, 20.12.2025 and 24.12.2025. Further, special buses will be operated from various places of intra & Interstate places to Bengaluru on 26.12.2025 & 28.12.2025.
Special buses will be exclusively operated from Bengaluru Kempegowda Bus Station to Dharmastala, Kukkesubramanya, Shivamogga, Hassan, Mangaluru, Kundapura, Shringeri, Horanadu, Davangere, Hubbali, Dharwad, Belagavi, Vijayapura, Gokarna, Sirsi, Karwar, Raichur, Kalaburagi, Ballari, Koppala, Yadgir, Bidar, Tirupathi, Vijayawada, Hyderabad and other places.
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Special buses from Mysuru Road Bus Station will be exclusively operated towards Mysuru, Hunsur, Piriyapatna, Virajpet, Kushalanagar, Madikeri.
The corporation has also announced a discount of 5 per cent on the fare if four or more passengers book tickets under a single reservation. A discount of 10 per cent will be extended on return journey tickets if onward and return tickets are booked simultaneously.
In addition to the above, special buses will be operated from all Taluk/District Bus Stands in the jurisdiction of KSRTC based on the traffic needs.
