THE PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES (Equal Opportunities,

protection Of Rights And Full Participation) ACT, 1995

Preliminary

1. This Act may be called the Persons With Disabilities (Equal Opportunities,
Protection of Rights and Full Participation) Act, 1995.
2. It extends to the whole of India except the State of Jammu and Kashmir.
3. It shall come into force on such date as the Central Government may, by
notification, appoint.

In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires,

a. "appropriate Government" means,

i. in relation to the Central Government or any establishment wholly or

substantially financed by that Government, or a Cantonment Board
constituted under the Cantonment Act, 1924, the Central Government;
ii. in relation to a State Government or any establishment wholly or
substantially financed by that Government, or any local authority,
other than a Cantonment Board, the State Government;
iii. in respect of the Central Coordination Committee and the Central
Executive Committee, the Central Government;
iv. in respect of the State Coordination Committee and the State Executive
Committee, the State Government;

b. "blindness" refers to a condition where a person suffers from any of the

following conditions, namely:-

i. total absence of sight; or

ii. visual acuity not exceeding 6/60 or 20/200 (snellen) in the better eye
with correcting lenses; or
iii. Limitation of the field of vision subtending an angle of 20 degree or
worse;

c. "Central Coordination Committee" means the Central Coordination

Committee constituted under sub-section (1) of section 3;

d. "Central Executive Committee" means the Central Coordination Committee

constituted under sub-section (1) of section 9;
 e. "cerebral palsy" means a group of non-progressive conditions of a person
characterised by abnormal motor control posture resulting from brain insult or
injuries occurring in the pre-natal, peri-natal or infant period of development;

f. "Chief Commissioner" means the Chief Commissioner appointed under sub-

section (1) of section 57;

g. "Commissioner" means the Commissioner appointed under sub-section (1) of

section 60;

h. "competent authority" means the authority appointed under section 50;

i. "disability" means -

i. blindness;
ii. low vision;
iii. leprosy-cured;
iv. hearing impairment;
v. locomotor disability;
vi. mental retardation;
vii. mental illness;

j. "employer" means,

a. in relation to a Government, the authority notified by the Head of the

Department in this behalf or where no such authority is notified, the
Head of the Department; and
b. in relation to an establishment, the chief executive officer of that
establishment;

b. "establishment" means a corporation established by or under a Central,

Provincial or State Act, or an authority or a body owned or controlled or aided
by the Government or a local authority or a Government company as defined
in section 617 of the Companies Act, 1956 and includes Departments of a
Government;

c. "hearing impairment" means loss of sixty decibels or more in the better ear in
the conversational range of frequencies;

d. "institution for persons with disabilities" means an institution for the

reception, care, protection, education, training, rehabilitation or any other
service of persons with disabilities;

e. "leprosy cured person" means any person who has been cured of leprosy but is
suffering from -

i. loss of sensation in hands or feet as well as loss of sensation and paresis in the
eye and eye-lid but with no manifest deformity;
 ii. manifest deformity and paresis but having sufficient mobility in their
hands and feet to enable them to engage in normal economic activity;
iii. extreme physical deformity as well as advanced age which prevents
him from undertaking any gainful occupation, and the expression
"leprosy cured" shall be construed accordingly;

f. "locomotor disability" means disability of the bones, joints or muscles leading

to substantial restriction of the movement of the limbs or any form of cerebral
palsy;

g. "medical authority" means any hospital or institution specified for the

purposes of this Act by notification by the appropriate Government;

h. "mental illness" means any mental disorder other than mental retardation;

i. "mental retardation" means a condition of arrested or incomplete development

of mind of a person which is specially characterised by subnormality of
intelligence;

j. "notification" means a notification published in the Official Gazette;

k. "person with disability" means a person suffering from not less than forty per
cent of any disability as certified by a medical authority;

l. "person with low vision" means a person with impairment of visual

functioning even after treatment or standard refractive correction but who uses
or is potentially capable of using vision for the planning or execution of a task
with appropriate assistive device;

m. "prescribed" means prescribed by rules made under this Act;

n. "rehabilitation" refers to a process aimed at enabling persons with disabilities

to reach and maintain their optimal physical, sensory, intellectual, psychiatric
or social functional levels;

o. "special Employment Exchange" means any office or place established and

maintained by the Government for the collection and furnishing of
information, either by keeping of registers or otherwise, respecting -

. persons who seek to engage employees from amongst the persons

suffering from disabilities;
i. persons with disability who seek employment;
ii. vacancies to which person with disability seeking employment may be
appointed;

p. "state Coordination Committee" means the State Coordination Committee

constituted under sub-section (1) of section 13;

q. "state Executive Committee" means the State Executive Committee

constituted under sub-section (1) of section 19.
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The Central Coordination Committee

The Central Government shall by notification constitute a body to be known as the

Central Coordination Committee to exercise the powers conferred on, and to perform
the functions assigned to it, under this Act.

The Central Coordination Committee shall consist of -

a. the Minister in charge of the Depfartment of Welfare in the Central

Government, Chairperson, ex officio;
b. the Minister of State in-charge of the Department of Welfare in the Central
Government, Vice-Chairperson, ex officio;
c. Secretaries to the Government of India in-charge of the Departments of
Welfare, Education, Woman and Child Development, Expenditure, Personnel,
Training and Public Grievances, Health, Rural Development, Industrial
Development, Urban Affairs and Employment, Science and Technology,
Legal Affairs, Public Enterprises, Members, ex officio;
d. Chief Commissioner, Member, ex officio;
e. Chairman Railway Board, Member, ex officio;
f. Director-General of Labour, Employment and Training, Member, ex officio;
g. Director, National Council for Educational Research and Training, Member,
ex officio;
h. three Members of Parliament, of whom two shall be elected by the House of
the People and one by the Council of States, Members;
i. three persons to be nominated by the Central Government to represent the
interests, which in the opinion of that Government ought to be represented,
Members;
j. Directors of the -

i. National Institute for the Visually Handicapped, Dehradun;

ii. National Institute for the Mentally Handicapped, Secundrabad;
iii. National Institute for the Orthopaedically Handicapped, Calcutta;
iv. Ali Yavar Jung National Institute for the Hearing Handicapped,
Mumbai, Members, ex officio;

k. four Members to be nominated by the Central Government by rotation to

represent the States and the Union territories in such manner as may be
prescribed by the Central Government:
Provided that no appointment under this clause shall be made except on the
recommendation of the State Government or, as the case may be, the Union
territory;
l. five persons as far as practicable, being persons with disabilities, to represent
non-governmental organisations or associations which are concerned with
disabilities, to be nominated by the Central Government, one from each area
of disability, Members:
Provided that while nominating persons under this clause, the Central
 Government shall nominate at least one woman and one person belonging to
Scheduled Castes or Scheduled Tribes;
m. Joint Secretary to the Government of India in the Ministry of Welfare dealing
with the welfare of the handicapped, Member-Secretary, ex officio.

The office of the Member of the Central Coordination Committee shall not disqualify
its holder for being chosen as or for being a Member of either House of Parliament.

1. Save as otherwise provided by or under this Act a Member of Central

Coordination Committee nominated under clause (i) or clause (1) of sub-
section (2) of section 3 shall hold office for a term of three years from the date
of his nomination;
Provided that such a Member shall, notwithstanding the expiration of his term,
continue to hold office until his successor enters upon his office.

2. The term of office an ex officio Member shall come to an end as soon as he

ceases to hold the office by virtue of which he was so nominated.

3. The Central Government may if it thinks fit remove any Member nominated
under clause (i) or clause (1) of sub-section (2) of section 3, before the expiry
of his term of office after giving him a reasonable opportunity of showing
cause against the same.

4. A Member nominated under clause (i) or clause (1) of sub-section (2) of

section 3 may at any time resign his office by writing under his hand
addressed to the Central Government and the seat of the said Member shall
thereupon become vacant.

5. A casual vacancy in the Central Coordination Committee shall be filled by a

fresh nomination and the person nominated to fill the vacancy shall hold office
only for the remainder of the term for which the Member in whose place he
was so nominated.

6. A Member nominated under clause (i) or clause (1) of sub-section (2) of

section 3 shall eligible for renomination.

Members nominated under clause (i) and clause (1) of sub-section (2) of section 3
shall receive such allowances as may be prescribed by the Central Government. (1)
No person shall be a Member of the Central Coordination Committee, who-

a. is, or at any time has been, adjudged insolvent or has suspended payment of
his debts or has compounded with his creditors, or
b. is of unsound mind and stands so declared by a competent court, or
c. is or has been convicted of an offence which, in the opinion of the Central
Government, involves moral turpitude, or
d. is or at any time has been convicted of an offence under this Act, or
e. has so abused in the opinion of the Central Government his position as a
Member as to render his continuance in the Central Coordination Committee
detrimental to the interests of the general public.
(2) No order of removal shall be made by the Central Government under this section
unless the Member concerned has been given a resonable opportunity of showing
cause against the same.

(3) Not withstanding anything contained in sub-section (1) or sub-section (6) of

section 4, a Member who has been removed under this section shall not be eligible for
renomination as a Member.

If a Member of the Central Coordination Committee becomes subject to any of the

disqualifications specified in section 5, his seat shall become vacant.

The Central Coordination Committee shall meet at least once in every six months and
shall observe such rules of procedure in regard to the transaction of business at its
meetings as may be prescribed by the Central Government.

(1) Subject to the provisions of this Act, the function of the Central Coordination
Committee shall be to serve as the national focal point on disabilty matters and
facilitate the continuous evolution of a comprehensive policy towards solving the
problems faced by persons with disabilities.

(2) In particular and without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing, the Central
Coordination Committee may perform all or any of the following functions, namely :

a. review and coordinate the activities of all the Departments of Government and
other Governmental and non-Governmental Organisations which are dealing
with matters relating to persons with disabilities;
b. develop a national policy to address issues faced by persons with disabilities;
c. advise the Central Government on the formulation of policies, programmes,
legislation and projects with respect to disability;
d. take up the cause of persons with disabilities with the concerned authorities
and the international organisations with a view to provide for schemes and
projects for the disabled in the national plans and other programmes and
policies evolved by the international agencies;
e. review in consultation with the donor agencies their funding policies from the
perspective of their impact on persons with disabilities;
f. take such other steps to ensure barrier free environment in Public places, work
places, public utilities, schools and other institutions;
g. monitor and evaluate the impact of policies and programmes designed for
achieving equality and full participation of persons with disabilities;
h. to perform such other functions as may be prescribed by the Central
Government.

(1) The Central Government shall constitute a Committee to be known as the Central
Executive Committee to perform the functions assigned to it under this Act.

(2) The Central Executive Committee shall consist of -

a. the Secretary to the Government of India in the Ministry of Welfare,

Chairperson, ex officio;
b. the Chief Commissioner, Member, ex officio;
 c. the Director-General for Health Services, Member, ex officio;
d. the Director-General, Employment and Training, Member, ex officio;
e. six persons not below the rank of a Joint Secretary to the Government of India,
to represent the Ministries or Departments of Rural Development, Education,
Welfare, Personnel Public Grievances and Pension and Urban Affairs and
Employment, Science and Technology, Member, ex officio;
f. the Financial Adviser, Ministry of Welfare in the Central Government,
Member, ex officio;
g. advisor (Tariff) Railway Board, Member, ex officio;
h. four members to be nominated by the Central Government, by rotation, to
represent the State Governments and the Union territories in such manner as
may be prescribed by the Central Government;
i. one person to be nominated by the Central Government to represent the
interest, which in the opinion of the Central Government ought to be
represented, Member;
j. five persons, as far as practicable, being persons with disabilities, to represent
non-governmental organisations or associations which are concerned with
disabilities, to be nominated by the Central Government, one from each area
of disability, Members:
Provided that while nominating persons under this clause, the Central
Government shall nominate at least one woman and one person belonging to
Scheduled Castes or Scheduled Tribes:
k. Joint Secretary to the Government of India in the Ministry of Welfare dealing
with the welfare of the handicapped, Member-Secretary, ex officio.<

(3) Member nominated under clause (i) and clause (i) of sub-section (2) shall receive
such allowances as may be prescribed by the Central Government.

(4) A Member nominated under clause (i) or clause (i) of sub-section (2) may at any
time resign his office by writing under his hand addressed to the Central Government
and the seat of the said Member shall thereupon become vacant.

(1) The Central Executive Committee shall be the executive body of the Central
Coordination Committee and shall be responsible for carrying out the decisions of the
Central Coordination Committee:

(2) Without prejudice to the provisions of sub-section (1), the Central Executive
Committee shall also perform such other functions as may be delegated to it by the
Central Coordination Committee.

The Central Executive Committee shall meet at least once in three months and shall
observe such rules of procedure in regard to the transaction of business at its meetings
as may be prescribed by the Central Government.

(1) The Central Executive Committee may associate with itself in such manner and
for such purposes as may be prescribed by the Central Government any person whose
assistance or advice it may desire to obtain in performing any of its functions under
this Act.
(2) A person associated with the Central Executive Committee under sub-section (1)
for any purpose shall have the right to take part in the discussions of the Central
Executive Committee relevant to that purpose, but shall not have a right to vote at a
meeting of the said Committee, and shall not be a member for any other purpose.

(3) A person associated with the said Committee under sub-section (1) for any
purpose shall be paid such fees and allowances, for attending its meetings and for
attending to any other work of the said Committee, as may be prescribed by the
Central Government.

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The State Coordination Committee

(1) Every State Government shall, by notification, constitute a body to be known as
the State Coordination Committee to exercise the powers conferred on, and to
perform the function assigned to it, under this Act.

(2) the State Coordination Committee shall consist of -

a. The Minister in-charge of the Department of Social Welfare in the State

Government, Chairperson, ex officio;
b. the Minister of State in-charge of the Department of Social Welfare, if any,
Vice-Chairperson, ex officio;
c. Secretaries to the State Government in-charge of the Departments of Welfare,
Education, Woman and Child Development, Expenditure, Personnel Training
and Public Grievances, Health, Rural Development, Industrial Development,
Urban Affairs and Employment, Science and Technology, Public Enterprises,
by whatever name called, Members, ex officio;
d. Secretary of any other Department which the State Government considers
necessary, Member, ex officio;
e. Chairman Bureau of Public Enterprises (by whatever name called) Member,
ex officio;
f. five persons, as far as practicable, being persons with disabilities, to represent
non-governmental organisations or associations which are concerned with
disabilities, to be nominated by the State Government, one from each area of
disability, Members:
Provided that while nominating persons under this clause, the State
Government shall nominate at least one woman and one person belonging to
Scheduled Castes or Scheduled Tribes;
g. three Members of State Legislature, of whom two shall be elected by the
Legislative Assembly and one by the Legislative Council, if any;
h. three persons to be nominated by that State Government to represent
agriculture, industry or trade or any other interest, which in the opinion of
State Government ought to be represented, Members, ex officio;
i. the Commissioner, Member, ex officio;
j. Secretary to the State Government dealing with the welfare of the
handicapped, Member-Secretary, ex officio.
(3) Notwithstanding anything contained in this section, no State Coordination
Committee shall be constituted for a Union territory and in relation to a Union
territory, the Central Coordination Committee shall exercise the functions and
perform the functions of a State Coordination Committee for the Union territory:

Provided that in relation to a Union territory, the Central Coordination Committee

may delegate all or any of its powers and functions under this sub-section to such
person or body of persons as the Central Government may specify.

(1) Save as other wise provided by or under this Act, a Member of a State
Coordination Committee nominated, Under clause (f) or clause (h) of sub-section (2)
of section 13 shall hold office for a term of three years from the date of his
nomination: Provided that such a Member shall, notwithstanding the expiration of his
term, continue to hold office until his successor enters upon his office.

(2) The term of office of an ex officio Member shall come to an end as soon as be
ceases to hold the office by virtue of which he was so nominated.

(3) The State Government may, if it thinks fit, remove any Member nominated under
clause (f) or clause (h) of sub-section (2) of section 13, before the expiry of his term
of office after giving him a reasonable opportunity of showing cause against the same.

(4) A Member nominated under clause (f) or clause (h) of sub-section (2) of section
13 may, at any time, resign his office by writing under his hand addressed to the State
Government and the seat of the said Member shall thereupon become vacant.

(5) A casual vacancy in the State Coordination Committee shall be filled by a fresh
nomination and the person nominated to fill the vacancy shall hold office only for the
remainder of the term for which the Member in whose place he was so nominated.

(6) A Member nominated under clause (f) and clause (h) of sub-section (2) of section
13 shall be eligible for renomination.

(7) Members nominated under clause (f) and clause (h) of sub-section (2) of section
13 shall receive such allowances as may be prescribed by the State Government.

(1) No person shall be a Member of the State Coordination Committee, who-

a. is, or at any time, has been adjudged insolvent or has suspended payment of
his debts or has compounded with his creditors, or
b. is of unsound mind and stands so declared by a competent court, or
c. is or has been convicted of an offence which in the opinion of the State
Government involves moral turpitude, or
d. is or at any time has been convicted of an offence under this Act, or
e. has so abused, in the opinion of the State Government his position as a
member as to render his contin-uance in the State Coordination Committee
detrimental to the interests of the general public.
(2) No order of removal shall be made by the State Government under this section
unless the Member concerned has been given a reasonable opportunity of showing
cause against the same.

(3) Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-section (1) or sub-section (6) of

section 14, a Member who has been removed under this section shall not be eligible
for renomination as a Member.

If a Member of the State Coordination Committee becomes subject to any of the

disqualifications specified in section 15, his seat shall become vacant.

The State Coordination Committee shall meet at least once in every six months and
shall observe such rules of procedure in regard to the transaction of business at its
meetings as may be prescribed.

(1) Subject to the provisions of this Act, the function of the State Coordination
Committee shall be to serve as the state focal point on disability matters and facilitate
the continuous evolution of a comprehensive policy towards solving the problems
faced by persons with disabilities.

(2) In particular and without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing function the
State Coordination Committee may, within the State perform all or any of the
following functions, namely:-

a. review and coordinate the activities of all the Departments of Government and
other Govern-mental and non-Governmental Organisations which are dealing
with matters relating to persons with disabilities;
b. develop a State policy to address issues faced by persons with disabilities;
c. advise the State Government on the formulation of policies, progr-ammes,
legislation and projects with respect to disability;
d. review, in consultation with the donor agencies, their funding policies from
the perspective of their impact on persons with disabilities;
e. take such other steps to ensure barrier free environment in public places, work
places, public utilities, schools and other institutions;
f. monitor and evaluate the impact of policies and programmes designed for
achieving equality and full participation of persons with disabilities;
g. to perform such other functions as may be prescribed by the State
Government.

(1) The State Government shall constitute a committee to be known as the State
Executive Committee to perform the functions assigned to it under this Act

The State Government shall constitute a committee to be known as the State

Executive Committee to perform the functions assigned to it under this Act.

(2) The State Executive Committee shall consist of -

a. the Secretary, Department of Social Welfare, Chairperson, ex officio;

b. the Commissioner, Member, ex officio;
 c. nine persons not below the rank of a Joint Secretary to the State Government,
to represent the Departments of Health, Finance, Rural Development,
Education, Welfare, Personnel Public Grievances, Urban Affairs Labour and
Employment, Science and Technology, Members, ex officio;
d. one person to be nominated by the State Government to represent the interest,
which in the opinion of the State Government ought to be represented,
Member;
e. five persons, as far as practicable being persons with disabilities, to represent
non-governmental organisations or associations which are concerned with
disabilities, to be nominated by the State Government, one from each area of
disability, Members:
Provided that while nominating persons under this clause, the State
Government shall nominate at least one woman and one person belonging to
Scheduled Castes or Scheduled Tribes;
f. Joint Secretary dealing with the disability division in the Department of
Welfare, Member-Secretary, ex officio.

(3) Members nominated under clause (d) and clause (e) of sub-secion (2) shall receive
such allowances as may be prescribed by the State Government.

(4) A Member nominated under clause (d) or clause (e) may at any time resign his
office by writing under his hand address to the State Government and the seat of the
said Member shall thereupon become vacant.

(1) The State Executive Committee shall be the executive body of the State
Coordination Committee and shall be responsible for carrying out the decisions of the
State Coordination Committee.

(2) Without prejudice to the provisions of sub-section (1), the State Executive
Committee shall also perform such other functions as may be delegated to it by the
State Coordination Committee.

The State Executive Committee shall meet at least once in three months and shall
observe such rules of procedure in regard to the transaction of business at its meetings
as may be prescribed by the State Government.

(1) The State Executive Committee may associate with itself in such manner and for
such purposes as may be prescribed by the State Government any person whose
assistance or advice it may desire to obtain in performing any of its functions under
this Act.

(2) A person associated with the State Executive Committee under sub-section (1) for
any purpose shall have the right to take part in the discussions of the State Executive
Committee relevant to that purpose, but shall not have a right to vote at a meeting of
the said Committee, and shall not be a member for any other purpose.

(3) A person associated with the said Committee under sub-section (1) for any
purpose shall be paid such fees and allowances, for attending its meetings and for
attending to any other work of the said Committee, as may be prescribed by the State
Government.
In the performance of its functions under this Act, -

a. the Central Coordination Committee shall be bound by such directions in

writing, as the Central Government may give to it; and
b. the State Coordination Committee shall be bound by such directions in
writing, as the Central Coordination Committee or the State Government may
give to it:
Provided that where a direction given by the State Government is inconsistent
with any direction given by the Central Coordination Committee, the matter
shall be referred to the Central Government for its decision.

No act or proceeding of the Central Coordination Committee, the Central Executive

Committee, a State Coordination Committee or a State Executive Committee shall be
called in question on the ground merely on the existence of any vacancy in or any
defect in the constitution of such Committees.

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Prevention and Early Detection of Disabilities

Within the limits of their economic capacity and development, the appropriate
Governments and the local authorities, with a view to preventing the occurrence of
disabilities, shall -

a. undertake or cause to be undertaken surveys, investigations and research

concerning the cause of occurrence of disabilities;
b. promote various methods of preventing disabilities;
c. screen all the children at least once in a year for the purpose of identifying "at-
risk" cases;
d. provide facilities for training to the staff at the primary health centres;
e. sponsor or cause to be sponsored awareness campaigns and disseminate or
cause to be disseminated information for general hygiene, health and
sanitation;
f. take measures for pre-natal, perinatal and post-natal care of mother and child;
g. educate the public through the pre-schools, primary health centres, village
level workers and anganwadi workers;
h. create awareness amongst the masses through television, radio and other mass
media on the causes of disabilities and the preventive measures to be adopted.

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Education
The appropriate Governments and the local authorities shall -

a. ensure that every child with a disability has access to free education in an
appropriate environment till he attains the age of eighteen years;
b. endeavour to promote the integration of students with disabilities in the
normal schools;
 c. promote setting up of special schools in Government and private sector for
those in need of special education, in such a manner that children with
disabilities living in any part of the country have access to such schools;
d. endeavour to equip the special schools for children with disabilities with
vocational training facilities.

The appropriate Governments and the local authorities shall by notification make
schemes for -

a. conducting part-time classes in respect of children with disabilities who

having completed education up to class fifth and could not continue their
studies on a whole-time basis;
b. conducting special part-time classes for providing functional literacy for
children in the age group of sixteen and above;
c. imparting non-formal education by utilizing the available manpower in rural
areas after giving them appropriate orientation;
d. imparting education through open schools or open universities;
e. conducting class and discussions through interactive electronic or other media;
f. providing every child with disability free of cost special books and equipments
needed for his education.

The appropriate Governments shall initiate or cause to be initiated research by official

and non-governmental agencies for the purpose of designing and developing new
assistive devices, teaching aids, special teaching materials or such other items as are
necessary to give a child with disability equal opportunities in education.

The appropriate Governments shall set up adequate number of teachers' training

institutions and assist the national institutes and other voluntary organisations to
develop teachers' training programmes specialising in disabilities so that requisite
trained manpower is available for special schools and integrated schools for children
with disabilities.

Without prejudice to the foregoing provisions, the appropriate Governments shall by

notification prepare a comprehensive education scheme which shall make provision
for -

a. transport facilities to the children with disabilities or in the alternative

financial incentives to parents or guardians to enable their children with
disabilities to attend schools;
b. the removal of architectural barriers from schools, colleges or other
institutions imparting vocational and professional training;
c. the supply of books, uniforms and other materials to children with disabilities
attending school;
d. the grant of scholarship to students with disabilities;
e. setting up of appropriate fora for the redressal of grievances of parents
regarding the placement of their children with disabilities;
f. suitable modification in the examination system to eliminate purely
mathematical questions for the benefit of blind students and students with low
vision;
g. restructuring of curriculum for the benefit of children with disabilities;
 h. restructuring the curriculum for benefit of students with hearing impairment to
facilitate them to take only one language as part of their curriculum.

All educational institutions shall provide or cause to be provided amanuensis to blind

students and students with or low vision.

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Employment
Appropriate Governments shall -

a. identify posts, in the establishments, which can be reserved for the persons
with disability;
b. at periodical intervals not exceeding three years, review the list of posts
identified and up-date the list taking into consideration the developments in
technology.

Every appropriate Government shall appoint in every establishment such percentage

of vacancies not less than three per cent for persons or class of persons with disability
of which one per cent each shall be reserved for persons suffering from -

i. blindness or low vision;

ii. hearing impairment;
iii. locomotor disability or cerebral palsy, in the posts identified for each
disability: Provided, that the appropriate Government may, having regard to
the type of work carried on in any department or establishment, by notification
subject to such conditions, if any, as may be specified in such notification,
exempt any establishment from the provisions of this section.

(1) The appropriate Government may, by notification, require that from such date as
may be specified, by notification, the employer in every establishment shall furnish
such information or return as may be prescribed in relation to vacancies appointed for
persons with disability that have occurred or are about to occur in that establishment
to such Special Employment Exchange as may be prescribed and the establishment
shall thereupon comply with such requisition.

(2) The form in which and the intervals of time for which information or returns shall
be furnished and the particulars, they shall contain shall be such as may be prescribed.

Any person authorised by the Special Employment Exchange in writing, shall have
access to any relevant record or document in the possession of any establishment and
may enter at any reasonable time and premises where he believes such record or
document to be, and inspect or take copies of relevant records or documents or ask
any question necessary for obtaining any information.

Where in any recruitment year any vacancy under section 33, cannot be filled up due
to non-availability of a suitable person with disability or, for any other sufficient
reason, such vacancy shall be carried forward in the succeeding recruitment year and
if in the succeeding recruitment year also suitable person with disability is not
available, it may first be filled by interchange among the three categories and only
when there is no person with disability available for the post in that year, the
employer shall fill up the vacancy by appointment of a person, other than a person
with disability: Provided that if the nature of vacancies in an establishment is such
that a given category of person can not be employed, the vacancies may be
interchanged among the three categories with the prior approval of the appropriate
Government.

(1) Every employer shall maintain such record in relation to the person with disability
employed in his establishment in such form and in such manner as may be prescribed
by the appropriate government.

(2) The records maintained under sub-section (1) shall be open to inspection at all
reasonable hours by such persons as may be authorised in this behalf by general or
special order by the appropriate Government.

(1) The appropriate Governments and local authorities shall by notification formulate
schemes for ensuring employment of persons with disabilities, and such schemes may
provide:

a. the training and welfare of persons with disabilities;

b. the relaxation of upper age limit;
c. regulating the employment;
d. health and safety measures and creation of a non-handicapping environment in
places where persons with disabilities are employed;
e. the manner in which and the persons by whom the cost of operating the
schemes is to be defrayed; and
f. constituting the authority responsible for the administration of the scheme.

All Government educational institutions and other educational institutions receiving

aid from the Government, shall reserve not less than three per cent seats for persons
with disabilities.

The appropriate Governments and local authorities shall reserve not less than three
per cent in all poverty alleviation schemes for the benefit of persons with disabilities.

The appropriate Governments and the local authorities shall, within the limits of their
economic capacity and development, provide incentives to employers both in public
and private sectors to ensure that at least five per cent of their work force is composed
of persons with disabilities.

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Affirmative Action
The appropriate Governments shall by notification make schemes to provide aids and
appliances to persons with disabilities.
The appropriate Governments and local authorities shall by notification frame
schemes in favour of persons with disabilities, for the preferential allotment of land at
concessional rates for -

a. house;
b. setting up business;
c. setting up of special recreation centres;
d. establishment of special schools;
e. establishment of research centres;
f. establishment of factories by entrepreneurs with disabilities.

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Non-Discrimination
Establishments in the transport sector shall, within the limits of their economic
capacity and development for the benefit of persons with disabilities, take special
measures to-

a. adapt rail compartments, buses, vessels and aircrafts in such a way as to

permit easy access to such persons;
b. adapt toilets in rail compartments, vessels, aircrafts and waiting rooms in such
a way as to permit the wheel chair users to use them conveniently.

The appropriate Governments and the local authorities shall, within the limits of their
economic capacity and development, provide for -

a. installation of auditory signals at red lights in the public roads for the benefit
of persons with visual handicap;
b. causing curb cuts and slopes to be made in pavements for the easy access of
wheel chair users;
c. engraving on the surface of the zebra crossing for the blind or for persons with
low vision;
d. engraving on the edges of railway platforms for the blind or for persons with
low vision;
e. devising appropriate symbols of disability;
f. warning signals at appropriate places.

The appropriate Governments and the local authorities shall, within the limits of their
economic capacity and development, provide for -

a. ramps in public building;

b. adaptation of toilets for wheel chair users;
c. braille symbols and auditory signals in elevators or lifts;
d. ramps in hospitals, primary health centres and other medical care and
rehabilitation institutions.

(1) No establishment shall dispense with, or reduce in rank, an employee who

acquires a disability during his service:
Provided that, if an employee, after acquiring disability is not suitable for the post he
was holding, could be shifted to some other post with the same pay scale and service
benefits:

Provided further that if it is not possible to adjust the employee against any post, he
may be kept on a supernumerary post until a suitable post is available or he attains the
age of superannuation, whichever is earlier.

(2) No promotion shall be denied to a person merely on the ground of his disability:

Provided that the appropriate Government may, having regard to the type of work
carried on in any establishment, by notification and subject to such conditions, if any,
as may be specified in such notification, exempt any establishment from the
provisions of this section.

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Research And Manpower Development

The appropriate Governments and local authorities shall promote and sponsor
research, inter alia, in the following areas: -

a. prevention of disability;
b. rehabilitation including community based rehabilitation;
c. development of assistive devices including their psycho-social aspects;
d. job identification;
e. on site modifications in offices and factories.

The appropriate Governments shall provide financial assistance to universities, other

institutions of higher learning, professional bodies and non-governmental research-
units or institutions, for undertaking research for special education, rehabilitation and
manpower development.

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Recognition of Institutions for Persons with Disabilities

The State Government shall appoint any authority as it deems fit to be a competent
authority for the purposes of this Act.

Save as otherwise provided under this Act, no person shall establish or maintain any
institution for persons with disabilities except under and in accordance with a
certificate of registration issued in this behalf by the competent authority:

Provided that a person maintaining an institution for persons with disabilities

immediately before the commencement of this Act may continue to maintain such
institution for a period of six months from such commencement and if he has made an
application for such certificate under this section within the said period of six months,
till the disposal of such application.
(1) Every application for a certificate of registration shall be made to the competent
authority in such form and in such manner as may be prescribed by the State
Government.

(2) On receipt of an application under sub-section (1), the competent authority shall
make such enquiries as it may deem fit and where it is satisfied that the applicant has
complied with the requirements of this Act and the rules made thereunder it shall
grant a certificate of registration to the applicant and where it is not so satisfied the
competent authority shall, by order, refuse to grant the certificate applied for :

Provided that before making any order refusing to grant a certificate the competent
authority shall give to the applicant a reasonable opportunity of being heard and every
order of refusal to grant a certificate shall be communicated to the applicant in such
manner as may be prescribed by the State Government.

(3) No certificate of registration shall be granted under sub-section (2) unless the
institution with respect to which an application has been made is in a position to
provide such facilities and maintain such standards as may be prescribed by the State
Government.

(4) A certificate of registration granted under this section,

a. shall, unless revoked under section 53, remain in force for such period as may
be prescribed by the State Government.
b. may be renewed from time to time for a like period; and
c. shall be in such form and shall be subject to such conditions as may be
prescribed by the State Government.

(5) An application for renewal of a certificate of registration shall be made not less
than sixty days before the period of validity.

(6) The certificate of registration shall be displayed by the institution in a conspicuous

place.

(1) The competent authority may, if it has reasonable cause to believe that the holder
of the certificate of registration granted under sub-section (2) of section 52 has -

a. made a statement in relation to any application for the issue or renewal of the
certificate which is incorrect or false in material particulars; or
b. committed or has caused to be committed any breach of rules or any
conditions subject to which the certificate was granted, it may, after making
such inquiry, as it deems fit, by order, revoke the certificate:
Provided that no such order shall be made until an opportunity is given to the
holder of the certificate to show cause as to why the certificate should not be
revoked.

(2) Where a certificate in respect of an institution has been revoked under sub-section
(1), such institution shall cease to function from the date of such revocation:
Provided that where an appeal lies under section 54 against the order of revocation,
such institution shall cease to function -

a. where no appeal has been preferred immediately on the expiry of the period
prescribed for the filing of such appeal, or
b. where such appeal has been preferred, but the order of revocation has been
upheld, from the date of the order of appeal.

(3) On the revocation of a certificate in respect of an institution, the competent

authority may direct that any person with disability who is an inmate of such
institution on the date of such revocation, shall be -

a. restored to the custody of her or his parent, spouse or lawful guardian, as the
case may be, or
b. transferred to any other institution specified by the competent authority.

(4) Every institution which holds a certificate of registration which is revoked under
this section shall, immediately after such revocation, surrender such certificate to the
competent authority.

(1) Any person aggrieved by the order of the competent authority refusing to grant a
certificate or revoking a certificate may, within such period as may be prescribed by
the State Government, prefer an appeal to that Government against such refusal or
revocation.

(2) The order of the State Government on such appeal shall be final.

Nothing contained in this Chapter shall apply to an institution for persons with
disabilities established or maintained by the Central Government or a State
Government.

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Institution for Persons with Severe Disabilities

The appropriate Government may establish and maintain institutions for persons with
severe disabilities at such places as it thinks fit.

(2) Where, the appropriate Government is of opinion that any institution other than an
institution, established under sub-section (1), is fit for the rehabilitation of the persons
with severe disabilities, the Government may recognise such institution as an
institution for persons with severe disabilities for the purposes of this Act:

Provided that no institution shall be recognised under this section unless such
institution has complied with the requirements of this Act and the rules made
thereunder.

(3) Every institution established under sub-section (1) shall be maintained in such
manner and satisfy such conditions as may be prescribed by the appropriate
Government.
(4) For the purposes of this section "person with severe disability" means a person
with eighty per cent. or more of one or more disabilities.

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The Chief Commissioner and Commissioners for Persons with

Disabilities
(1) The Central Government may, by notification, appoint a Chief Comm-issioner for
persons with disabilities for the purposes of this Act.

(2) A person shall not be qualified for appointment as the Chief Commiss-ioner unless
he has special knowledge or practical experience in respect of matters relating to
rehabilitation.

(3) The salary and allowances payable to and other terms and conditions of service
(including pension, gratuity and other retirement benefits) of the Chief Commissioner
shall be such as may be prescribed by the Central Government.

(4) The Central Government shall determine the nature and categories of officers and
other employees required to assist the Chief Commissioner in the discharge of his
functions and provide the Chief Commissioner with such officers and other
employees as it thinks fit.

(5) The officers and employees provided to the Chief Commissioner shall discharge
their functions under the general superintendence of the Chief Commissioner.

(6) The salaries and allowances and other conditions of service of officers and
employees provided to the Chief Commissioner shall be such as may be prescribed by
the Central Government.

The Chief Commissioner shall -

a. coordinate the work of the Commis-sioners;

b. monitor the utilisation of funds disbursed by the Central Government;
c. take steps to safeguard the rights and facilities made available to persons with
disabilities;
d. submit reports to the Central Government on the implementation of the Act at
such intervals as that Government may prescribe.

Without prejudice to the provisions of section 58 the Chief Commissioner may of his
own motion or on the application of any aggrieved person or otherwise look into
complaints with respect to matters relating to

a. deprivation of rights of persons with disabilities;

b. non-implementation of laws, rules, bye-laws, regulations, executive orders,
guidelines or instructions made or issued by the appropriate Governments and
the local authorities for the welfare and protection of rights of persons with
disabilities, and take up the matter with appropriate authorities.
(1) Every State Government may, by notification appoint a Commissioner for persons
with disabilities for the purposes of this Act.

(2) A person shall not be qualified for appointment as a Commissioner unless he has
special knowledge or practical experience in respect of matters relating to
rehabilitation.

(3) The salary and allowances payable to and other terms and conditions of service
(including pension, gratuity and other retirement benefits) of the Commissioner shall
be such as may be prescribed by the State Government.

(4) The State Government shall determine the nature and categories of officers and
other employees required to assist the Commissioner in the discharge of his functions
and provide the Commissioner with such officers and other employees as it thinks fit.

(5) The officers and employees provided to the Commissioner shall discharge their
functions under the general superintendence of the Commissioner.

(6) The salaries and allowances and other conditions of service of officers and
employees provided to the Commissioner shall be such as may be prescribed by the
State Government.

The Commissioner within the State shall -

a. coordinate with the departments of the State Government for the programmes
and schemes for the benefit of persons with disabilities;
b. monitor the utilization of funds disabused by the State Government;
c. take steps to rewguard the rights and facilities made available to persons with
disabilities;
d. submit reports to the State Government on the implementation of the Act as
such intervals as that Government may prescribe and forward a copy there of
the chief Commissioner.

Without prejudice to the provisions of section 61 the Commissioner may of his own
motion or on the application of any aggrieved person or otherwise look into
complaints with respect to matters relating to -

a. deprivation of rights of persons with disabilities;

b. non-implementation of laws, rules, bye-laws, regulations, executive orders,
guidelines or instructions made or issued by the appropriate Governments and
the local authorities for the welfare and protection of rights of persons with
disabilities, and take up the matter with the appropriate authorities.

The Chief Commissioner and the Commissioners shall, for the purpose of discharging
their functions under this Act, have the same powers as are vested in a court under the
Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 while trying a suit, in respect of the following matters,
namely :-

a. summoning and enforcing the attendance of witnesses;

b. requiring the discovery and production of any document;
 c. requisitioning any public record or copy thereof from any court or office;
d. receiving evidence on affidavits; and
e. issuing commissions for the examination of witnesses or documents.

(2) Every proceeding before the Chief Commissioner and Commissioners shall be a
judicial proceeding within the meaning of sections 193 and 228 of the Indian Penal
Code and the Chief Commissioner, the Commissioner, the competent authority, shall
be deemed to be a civil court for the purposes of section on 195 and Chapter XXVI of
the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973.

(1) The Chief Commissioner shall prepare in such form and at such time for each
financial year as may be prescribed by the Central Government an annual report
giving a full account of his activities during the previous financial year and forward a
copy thereof to the Central Government.

(2) The Central Government shall cause the annual report to be laid before each
House of Parliament along with the recommendations explaining the action taken or
proposed to be taken on the recommendation made therein in so far as they relate to
the Central Government and the reasons for non-acceptance, if any, of any such
recommendation or part.

(1) The Commissioner shall prepare in such form and at such time for each financial
year as may be prescribed by the State Government an annual report giving a full
account of his activities during the previous financial year and forward a copy thereof
to the State Government.

(2) The State Government shall cause the annual report to be laid before each State
Legislature along with the recommendations explaining the action taken or proposed
to be taken on the recommendation made therein in so far as they relate to the State
Government and the reasons for non-acceptance, if any, of any such recommendation
or part.

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Social Security
(1) The appropriate Governments and the local authorities shall within the limits of
their economic capacity and development undertake or cause to be undertaken
rehabilitation of all persons with disabilities.

(2) For purposes of sub-section (1), the appropriate Governments and local authorities
shall grant financial assistance to non-governmental organisations.

(3) The appropriate Governments and local authorities while formulating

rehabilitation policies shall consult the non-governmental organisations working for
the cause of persons with disabilities.

(1) The appropriate Government shall by notification frame an insurance scheme for
the benefit of its employees with disabilities.
(2) Notwithstanding anything contained in this section, the appropriate Government
may instead of framing an insurance scheme frame an alternative security scheme for
its employees with disabilities.

The appropriate Governments shall within the limits of their economic capacity and
development shall by notification frame a scheme for payment of an unemployment
allowance to persons with disabilities registered with the Special Employment
Exchange for more than two years and who could not be placed in any gainful
occupation.

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Miscellaneous
Whoever, fraudulently avails or attempts to avail, any benefit meant for persons with
disabilities, shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to
two years or with fine which may extend to twenty thousand rupees or with both.

The Chief Commissioner, the Commissioners and other officers and staff provided to
them shall be deemed to be public servants within the meaning or section 21 of the
Indian Penal Code.

No suit, prosecution or other legal proceeding shall lie against the Central
Government, the State Governments or the local authority or any officer of the
Government in respect of anything which is done in good faith or intended to be done
in pursuance of this Act and any rules or orders made thereunder.

The provisions of this Act, or the rules made thereunder shall be in addition to and not
in derogation of any other law for the time being in force or any rules, order or any
instructions issued thereunder, enacted or issued for the benefit of persons with
disabilities.

(1) The appropriate Government may, by notification, make rules for carrying out the
provisions of this Act.

(2) In particular, and without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing powers, such
rules may provide for all or any of the following matters, namely:

a. the manner in which a State Government or a Union territory shall be chosen

under clause (k) of sub-section (2) of section 3;
b. allowances which members shall receive under sub-section (7) of section 4;
c. rules of procedure which the Central Coordination Committee shall observe in
regard to the transaction of business in its meeting under section 7;
d. such other functions which the Central Coordination Committee may perform
under clause (h) of sub-section (2) of section 8;
e. the manner in which a State Government or a Union territory shall be chosen
under clause (h) of sub-section (2) of section 9;
f. the allowances which the Members shall receive under sub-section (3) of
section 9;
 g. rules of procedure which the Central Executive Committee shall observe in
regard to transaction of business at its meetings under section 11;
h. the manner and purposes for which a person may be associated under sub-
section (1) of section 12;
i. fees and allowances which a person associated with the Central Executive
Committee shall receive under sub-section (3) of section 12;
j. allowances which members shall receive under sub-section (7) of section 14;
k. rules of procedure which a State Coordination Committee shall observe in
regard to transaction of business in its meetings under section 17;
l. such other functions which a State Coordination Committee may perform
under clause (g) of sub-section (2) of section 18;
m. the allowances which Members shall receive under sub-section (3) of section
19;
n. rules of procedure which a State Executive Committee shall observe in regard
to transaction of business at its meetings under section 21;
o. the manner and purposes for which a person may be associated under sub-
section (1) of section 22;
p. fees and allowances which a person associated with the State Executive
Committee may receive under sub-section (3) of section 22;
q. information or return which the employer in every establishment should
furnish and the Special Employment Exchange to which such information or
return shall be furnished under sub-section (1) of section 34;
r. the form and the manner in which record shall be maintained by an employer
under sub-section (1) of section 37;
s. the form and manner in which an application shall be made under sub-section
(1) of section 52;
t. the manner in which an order of refusal shall be communicated under sub-
section (2) of section 52;
u. facilities or standards required to be provided or maintained under sub-section
(3) of section 52;
v. the period for which a certificate of registration shall be valid under clause (a)
of sub-section (4) of section 52;
w. the form in which and conditions subject to which a certificate of registration
shall be granted under clause (c) of sub-section (4) of section 52;
x. period within which an appeal shall lie under sub-section (1) of section 54;
y. the manner in which an institution for persons with severe disabilities shall be
maintained and conditions which have to be satisfied under sub-section (3) of
section 56;
z. the salary, allowances and other terms and conditions of service of the Chief
Commissioner under sub-section (3) of section 57;

(za) the salary, allowances and other conditions of service of officers and employees
under sub-section (6) of section 57;

(zb) intervals at which the Chief Commissioner shall report to the Central
Government under clause (d) of section 58;

(zc) the salary, allowances and other terms and conditions of service of the
Commissioner under sub-section (3) of section 60;
(zd) the salary, allowances and other conditions of service of officers and employees
under sub-section (6) of section 60;

(ze) intervals within which the Commissioner shall report to the State Government
under clause (d) of section 61;

(zf) the form and time in which annual report shall be prepared under sub-section (1)
of section 64;

(zg) the form and time in which annual report shall be prepared under sub-section (1)
of section 65;

(zh) any other matter which is required to be or may be prescribed.

(3) Every notification made by the Central Government under the proviso to section
33, proviso to sub-section (2) of section 47, every scheme framed by it under section
27, section 30, sub-section (1) of section 38, section 42, section 43, section 67, section
68 and every rule made by it under sub-section (1), shall be laid, as soon as may be
after it is made, before each House of Parliament, while it is in session for a total
period of thirty days which may be comprised in one session or in two or more
successive sessions, and if, before the expiry of the session immediately following the
session or the successive sessions aforesaid, both Houses agree in making any
modification in the rule, notification or scheme, both Houses agree that the rule,
notification or scheme should not be made, the rule, notification or scheme shall
thereafter have effect only in such modified form or be of no effect, as the case may
be, so, however, that any such modification or annulment shall be without prejudice to
the validity of anything previously done under that rule, notification or scheme, as the
case may be.

(4) Every notification made by the State Government under the proviso to section 33,
proviso to sub-section (2) of section 47, every scheme made by it under section 27,
section 30, sub-section (1) of section 38, section 42 section 43, section 67, section 68
and every rule made by it under sub-section (1), shall be laid, as soon as may be after
it is made, before each House of State Legislature, where it consists of two Houses or
where such legislature consists of one House before that House.

In section 12 of the Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987, for clause (d), the following
clause shall be substituted, namely:

"(d) a person with disability as defined in clause (i) of section 2 of the Persons With
Disabilities (Equal Opportunities, Protection of Rights and Full Participation) Act,
1995."

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