In a pivotal decision, the Bombay High Court has established a special committee to improve the accessibility and facilities for senior citizens and specially-abled persons at airports. This Tuesday, Justices G S Kulkarni and Advait Sethna voiced their concerns regarding the current state of airport accommodations for individuals requiring additional support, including those in need of wheelchair facilities.
The newly formed three-member panel is to be chaired by former Andhra Pradesh High Court judge, Goda Raghuram, and includes consumer activist Shirish Deshpande and a representative from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA). The committee is tasked with a thorough examination of the issues from various perspectives and will submit a comprehensive report to the DGCA.
Highlighting the urgency and importance of this initiative, the court stated, “There cannot be any laxity, negligence, and sufferance on these basic requirements of the senior citizens and specially-abled persons.” The court emphasized that providing necessary facilities is not only a regulatory requirement but a fundamental human necessity.
The DGCA has expressed its support for this cause, indicating its readiness to discuss and potentially implement recommendations that could serve as a model for airports globally. “The committee’s role is recommendatory in nature,” the court clarified. “It is for the DGCA ultimately to consider the same and take appropriate decisions.”
The formation of this committee comes in response to separate petitions filed by affected individuals, including an 81-year-old woman and her daughter, who faced challenges due to the non-availability of adequate wheelchairs at the Mumbai International Airport. This incident, among others, highlighted the pressing need for systemic improvements.
