The Centre informed the Supreme Court that the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) has developed guidelines for creating e-content for children with disabilities, specifically for school education.
In its affidavit, the government also mentioned that the NCERT had conducted in-person training programs for teachers and other stakeholders in select states during 2022-2023.
The Centre’s response was filed in the ongoing Supreme Court case, in which the Javed Abidi Foundation has petitioned for the issuance of specific guidelines to ensure equal participation for students with disabilities in online education.
The case was heard by Justices B.R. Gavai and K.V. Viswanathan on Tuesday. Additional Solicitor General Aishwarya Bhati, representing the government, referenced the affidavit filed in the case.
Advocate Sanchita Ain, representing the petitioner, cited a Supreme Court ruling from November 8, which directed the Centre to implement mandatory accessibility standards within three months.
The bench noted that the issues in this petition overlap with those addressed in the November 8 ruling. Therefore, the Court suggested that both matters be heard together.
The Court instructed the registry to list the Javed Abidi Foundation’s petition alongside the earlier case.
The Centre’s affidavit detailed efforts to address the petitioner’s suggestions, including the formation of an inter-ministerial committee in February 2022 by the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities. The committee, which includes representatives from the University Grants Commission (UGC), All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE), National Council for Teacher Education (NCTE), NCERT, and the Rehabilitation Council of India (RCI), has worked on developing guidelines for inclusive digital education.
The affidavit highlighted that the UGC and AICTE have already circulated guidelines to universities and institutions. The NCERT has also developed e-content guidelines for school education, while NCTE’s accessibility guidelines have been issued to relevant institutions. RCI, although not having separate guidelines, has adopted the UGC guidelines for its approved institutions.
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