To ensure speedy trial to people with disabilities, the Rights of
Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016 mandates the setting up of special
courts. This has finally been brought into force in Karnataka.
The Karnataka government has issued Government Order that will bring much
relief to the disabled community in the state. It has announced that 30
Special Courts will be appointed in the state with the specific purpose of
bringing speedy justice to people with disabilities.
This is a crucial provision mandated under the Rights of Persons with
Disabilities (RPWD) Act, 2016. Confirming the news State
Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities, Karnataka, V.S
Basavaraju has said that the news should be widely disseminated to
encourage the disabled community and their families so that they can seek
justice.
The Karnataka government has issued an order directing that a Special Court
in each district of the state will look into offences pertaining to the
disabled community. There will be no new court set up as such, but this
will be operated within the existing district courts. – V S
Basavaraju, State Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities,
Karnataka
Welcoming the news, Sarbani Mallick,
Founder-Director, Biswagouri Charitable Trust, which reaches
out to children with autism, says the Special Courts is an important step.
“This will save people with disabilities and their families endless waiting
and harassment which they are subject to right now given the endless delays
in the legal system. This is much needed”.
Echoing the sentiments, autism advocate and mom Chitra Paul,
who is also the Course Coordinator for Autism, Karnataka Parents
Association for Mentally Retarded Children (KPAMRC), hoped that
there will be no lapse between policy and action. “This is an important
announcement, but we hope that there will be no lag between policy and
implementation as is often seen”.
More than three years after the RPWD Act came into effect, most states have
been slow to bring into effect key provisions of the Act.
