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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Vijay calls on TN Governor, stakes claim to form govt
Chennai (PTI): TVK chief Vijay on Wednesday met Tamil Nadu Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar and staked claim to form the government in the state, two days after his party emerged as the single largest party but was short of a simple majority.
The TVK founder met the Governor at 3.15 pm following an invitation from the Lok Bhavan. He was accompanied by party leaders, including "Bussy" N Anand, Aadhav Arjuna, K A Sengottaiyan, C T Nirmal Kumar and others during the meeting.
Vijay met the Governor hours after the Congress party declared support and following a meeting between the TVK chief and Congress leaders here. While the TVK appears keen on securing support from the VCK and the two Left parties, who continue to be part of the DMK-led alliance, they have so far not given any positive signals.
The TVK won 108 seats in the 234-member strong Tamil Nadu Assembly in the recently held elections. 118 is the majority mark to form the government.
Vijay is likely to take oath as Chief Minister on May 7, according to party sources.
The DMK won 59, AIADMK 47, Congress 5, PMK 4, IUML 2, CPI 2, VCK 2, CPI-M 2. BJP, DMDK and AMMK won 1 seat each.
VIDEO | Chennai: TVK chief Vijay (@TVKVijayHQ) meets Tamil Nadu Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar, submits MLAs’ support letter to stake claim to form government in the state.
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) May 6, 2026
(Source: Third Party)
(Full video available on PTI Videos - https://t.co/n147TvrpG7) pic.twitter.com/XWAo9djkca
