gopi

wp-3365-13.sxw

WRITPETITIONNO.3365OF2013
..Petitioner

C
ou

ShriVinodShahajiTambe
Vs.
TheUnionofIndia&Anr.

rt

INTHEHIGHCOURTOFJUDICATUREATBOMBAY
APPELLATECIVILJURISDICTION

...Respondents

ig
h

Mr.M.S.Karnik,forthepetitioner.
Mr.S.M.PatilforrespondentNo.2.
CORAM:MOHITS.SHAH,C.J.&
M.S.SANKLECHA,J.
DATE:12July2013
P.C.

LeavetoaddtheCentralCoordinationCommitteeestablished

under the Persons with Disabilities (Equal Opportunities, Protection of

RightsandFullParticipation)Act,1995(hereinafterreferredtoasthe
DisabilitiesAct)andStateCoordination Committee establishedunder

ba
y

thesameAct.
2.

Learnedcounselforthepetitionersubmitsthatthepetitioner

om

wasdiagnosedtobesufferingwithbloodcancerin1977andwastreated
attheTataMemorialHospital,Mumbai. Thepetitionerwasdeclaredas
CancerCuredHandicap(PHPCO)aspercertificatedated16March2005.
Thelearnedcounselhasrelieduponthecirculardated21November1983
issued by the Director of Employment Exchange of the State of
MaharashtrainstructingalltheDistrictEmploymentOfficerstoregister
thecancercuredpersonsashandicappedpersons. Thelearnedcounsel
submitsthatitisthusthepolicyoftheStatetorecognizethecancercured
persons as handicapped persons. But the State Government has now
adoptedthestandthatinviewoftheenactmentoftheDisabilities Act,
theCircularstandssupersededandthatthedefinitionofdisabilitiesinthe
Disabilities Act,. 1995 does not cover the petitioner's case. It is even
submittedintheaffidavitfiledbytheStateGovernmentthatdefinitionof
1 of 5

::: Downloaded on - 02/07/2015 13:25:36 :::

gopi

wp-3365-13.sxw

disabilityenshrinedintheAmendmentBill,2012alsodoesnotcover

rt

thedisabilitysufferedbythepetitionerand,therefore,alsothepetitioner
isnotentitledtoseekanyreliefasprayedinthepetition. Thelearned

C
ou

counsel states that the copy of the Government Resolution dated 24

October1983referredtointheaforesaidCircularcouldnotbeobtained
bythepetitioner.
3.

Learned counsel submits that the respondent authorities

erredinapplyingverynarrowdefinitionofthetermdisability.Learned

ig
h

counselsubmitsthatdisabilityhasbeendefinedunderSection2(i)ofthe
Actasunder:

(i)disabilitymeans

(i)blindness;

lowvision;

(iii)

leprosycured;

(iv)

hearingimpairment;

(v)

locomotordisability;

(vi)

mentalretardation;

ba
y

(ii)

om

(vii) mentalillness.

ThelocomotordisabilityisdefinedinSection2(o)asunder:
(o)locomotordisabilitymeansdisabilityofthebones,joints
ormusclesleadingtosubstantialrestrictionofthemovementof
thelimbsoranyformofcerebralpalsy.
Learned counsel submits that a person who has suffered blood cancer
even after getting cured does suffer from disabilities arising from
weaknessofthebones,jointsormusclesleadingtosubstantialrestriction
ofthemovementofthelimbsand,therefore,thepetitionerissuffering
fromlocomotordisabilityasindicatedabove.

2 of 5

::: Downloaded on - 02/07/2015 13:25:36 :::

gopi

wp-3365-13.sxw

4.

Learnedcounselfurthersubmitsthattherearevariousother

rt

forms of disabilities which would be covered by the definition of

disabilityundertheDisabilitiesAct,1995 aswellasRightofPersons

C
ou

withDisabilitiesBill,2012,butbecauseofthenarrowinterpretationbeing
placedbytherespondentauthoritiesonthedefinitions,largenumberof
personsaredeprivedofthebenefitswhichwouldotherwisebeavailable
tothem.

Forinstance,thereisadiseasecalledHunter'sSyndrome.

Hunter'sSyndromeisararegeneticdisorderthatoccurswhenanenzyme

ig
h

the body needs is missing or not generated enough. This leads to

progressive damage affecting mental development and organ function.
Therefore,thoughsuchapatientmaybetreatedaspartiallycoveredby

thedefinitionofdisability becauseofhearing impairment ormental

retardationyetwherethehearingdisabilitymaybeassessedatlessthan
40degreeandmentalretardationisalsoseparatelyassessedatlessthan

ba
y

40 degree, the cumulative effect of hearing impairment and mental

retardationisnottakenintoaccountwhichwouldenablesuchaperson
to qualify to be treated as disabled. Thus on account of the narrow

om

interpretationbeingplacedbythe authorities,suchpersonsdonotfall
withinthedefinitionofpersonswithdisability.
5.

Learnedcounselhasinvitedourattentiontotheprovisions

oftheRightofPersonswithDisabilitiesBill,2012particularlydefinitions
ofdisabilityinclausesx,yandzofSection2oftheBill,whichread
asunder:
(x)'personwithbenchmarkdisability'meansapersonwithnot
lessthanfortypercentofaspecifieddisability,ascertifiedbya
competentauthority;
(y) 'person with disability' means a person with long term
physical,mental, intellectual orsensoryimpairmentwhich,in
interaction with various barriers, may hinder his full and
effectiveparticipationinsocietyonanequalbasiswithothers;
(z) 'person with disability having his support needs' means a
3 of 5

::: Downloaded on - 02/07/2015 13:25:36 :::

gopi

wp-3365-13.sxw

C
ou

rt

personwithbenchmarkdisabilitywhoiscertifiedundersection
44 to require high support on an ongoing basis, and may, in
particular,includesuchpersonsconfinedtotheirhomesorliving
in institutions, or who may be concealed, neglected or
segregated,ordestituteorhomeless.
ClauseshhofSection2oftheBill,readsasunder:
hh.'specifieddisability'means
autismspectrumdisorder;

ii)

blindness;

iii)

cerebralpalsy;

iv)

chronicneurologicalconditions;

v)

deafblindness;

vi)

hemophilia;

vii)

hearingimpairment;

ig
h

i)

viii) intellectualdisability;
leprosycured;

x)

locomotordisability;

xi)

lowvision;

xii)

mentalillness;

ba
y

ix)

om

xiii) musculardystrophy;
xiv)

multiplesclerosis;

xv)

specificlearningdisability;

xvi)

speechandlanguagedisability,and

xvii) thalassemia;
xviii) multipledisability;
asdefinedintheSchedule.
6.

Learned counsel has also invited our attention to the

provisions of Section 8 and 16 of the Disabilities Act, 1995 which lay

down the functions of Central Coordination Committee and State
Coordination Committee particularly the function of facilitating the
4 of 5

::: Downloaded on - 02/07/2015 13:25:36 :::

gopi

wp-3365-13.sxw

continuous evolution of a comprehensive policy towards solving the

rt

problemsfacedbypersonswithdisabilitiesanddevelopingnationaland
Statepoliciestoaddressissuesfacedbypersonswithdisabilities,further

C
ou

to advise the Central Government and State Government on the

formulation of policies aswell asprogrammes, legislation andprojects
withrespecttodisability.
7.

Inviewoftheabovesubmissions,noticetothenewlyadded

parties,returnableon7August2013. LearnedA.G.P.,waivesserviceof

ig
h

notice on State Coordination Committee. Mr. Sethna, learned counsel

waives service of notice of Union of India and also of Central

ba
y

CoordinationCommittee.

M.S.SANKLECHA,J.

om

CHIEFJUSTICE

5 of 5

::: Downloaded on - 02/07/2015 13:25:36 :::

ASN

1/1

WP-3365.sxw

Shri.VinodS.Tambe.
VS.
TheUnionofIndiaandanr.

C
ou

WRITPETITIONNO.3365OF2013

rt

INTHEHIGHCOURTOFJUDICATUREATBOMBAY
CIVILAPPELLATEJURISDICTION

...Petitioner.

...Respondents.

ig
h

Mr.SachinGitei/byShri.M.S.KarnikforthePetitioner.
Mr.A.M.SethnaandS.D.BhosaleforRespondentNo.1.

CORAM:MOHITS.SHAH,C.J.AND

M.S.SANKLECHA,J.

PC:

07August2013

ba
y

Time limit granted earlier for carrying out the

amendmentisextendedupto13August2013.

CHIEFJUSTICE

M.S.SANKLECHA,J.

om

Standoverto27August2013.

::: Downloaded on - 02/07/2015 13:26:54 :::

upa

WP-3365-13.sxw

APPELLATE CIVIL JURISDICTION

Vinod Shahaji Tambe

C
ou

WRIT PETITION NO.3365 OF 2013

rt

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY

).. Petitioner

Versus

).. Respondents

ig
h

The Union of India and another

CORAM : MOHIT S. SHAH, C.J. &

M.S. SANKLECHA, J.
DATE : 29 AUGUST 2013

ba
y

Mr. M.S. Karnik for the Petitioner.

Mr.A.M. Sethna with Mr.S.D. Bhosale for Respondent No.1.
Mr. Jaydeep Deo, AGP, for Respondent No.2.

P.C.

While adjourning the further hearing of this petition, in order

om

to enable the learned Counsel for the petitioner to make a representation to

the Union of India in the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment,

Department of Disability Affairs, we also expect the Central Co-ordination

Committee appointed under The Persons with Disabilities (Equal
Opportunities, Protection of Rights and Full Participation) Act, 1995 to
look into the petitioner's representation and to make such recommendations
as it may consider appropriate. It may be pointed out that besides the
petitioner's case like cancer cured patients, various other disabilities such
as children suffering from Hunter's Syndrome should also be considered by

1 of 2

::: Downloaded on - 02/07/2015 13:27:15 :::

upa

WP-3365-13.sxw

the Central Co-ordination Committee whether they should be treated as

rt

disability within the meaning of the term "specified disability" in clause

(hh) of Section 2 in the definition as provided in the Right of Persons with

C
ou

Disabilities Bill, 2012 which is under consideration. For this purpose,

copy of our order dated 12 July 2013 shall also be forwarded to the Central
Co-ordination Committee along with the representation to be made by the
petitioner through his learned Advocate.
Stand over to 1 October 2013.

CHIEF JUSTICE

ig
h

2.

om

ba
y

M.S. SANKLECHA, J.

2 of 2

::: Downloaded on - 02/07/2015 13:27:15 :::