The commission has recommended monitoring mechanisms to ensure universities and affiliated schools provide accessibility facilities for students with disabilities.

The Central Information Commission (CIC) has recommended that the University Grants Commission (UGC) and the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) introduce monitoring mechanisms to ensure educational institutions provide accessibility facilities for students with disabilities.

In two separate orders, Information Commissioner Sudha Rani Relangi invoked Section 25(5) of the Right to Information (RTI) Act, 2005, to recommend measures for enforcing disability-related provisions in educational institutions. The orders followed appeals by an applicant who raised concerns about inadequate accessibility infrastructure in institutions in Bihar.

Recommendations to UGC

In the appeal concerning the UGC, the applicant had sought details of action taken on a complaint about the lack of facilities for persons with disabilities in colleges affiliated with Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar Bihar University.

The university informed the commission that ramps had been constructed at its administrative building and key departments, while separate accessible toilets for men and women with disabilities were under construction. It had also directed affiliated colleges to provide ramps with handrails, accessible toilets, lifts where required, designated parking, suitable library facilities and wheelchairs.

The CIC recommended that the UGC issue guidelines for barrier-free access in accordance with the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016, and ensure compliance by approved universities.

Directions to CBSE

In the separate appeal concerning the CBSE, the applicant had sought information on action taken following complaints about accessibility facilities in private and public schools in Bihar and Delhi-NCR.

The board informed the commission that it had issued mandatory guidelines to affiliated schools concerning provisions for children with special needs.

The CIC recommended that the CBSE issue directions to affiliated schools and establish a monitoring mechanism to ensure implementation of the guidelines and prevent eligible children from being denied prescribed facilities and support.

While finding the responses of the respective public information officers appropriate under the RTI Act, the commission highlighted the larger public interest in protecting the educational rights of children with special needs.

Inputs from PTI

Also Read: QS Asia University Rankings 2027: India leads in research output but top universities slip