Madras High CourtWP/2463/2021disposed of

M.Karpagam v. Commissionerate For The Welfare Of Differently Abled

2021-09-13Honourable The Chief Justice,Honourable Mr Justice P.D.Audikesavalu13 pages

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS

DATED: 13.09.2021 CORAM :

THE HON'BLE MR.SANJIB BANERJEE, CHIEF JUSTICE AND THE HON'BLE MR.JUSTICE P.D.AUDIKESAVALU W.P.No.2463 of 2021 M.Karpagam

...Petitioner

Vs 1.Commissionerate for the Welfare of Differently Abled No.5 Kamarajar Salai Lady wellington College Campus Chennai 600005 2.The Government of Tamil Nadu Rep. By the Chief Secretary to Govt.

Fort St. George, Chennai-9 3.District Differently Abled Welfare Officer Forest Office Building D.M.S Compound, Chennai 600006.

4.District Differently Abled Welfare Officer G.S.T Road (Near Court) Kancheepuram District At Chengalpattu 603 001.

5.District Differently Abled Welfare Office Collectorate Complex Thiruvallur.

6.District Differently Abled Welfare Office District Panchayat Office Complex Perumalsamy Building(Ground Floor) Officer's Line (Opp to Muslim School) Vellore.

7.District Differently Abled Welfare Office District Panchayat Office Complex Ground Floor, Collector Nagar Thiruvannamalai 606 604.

8.District Differently Abled Welfare Office 37 Ramodass Road Pudupalayam, Cuddalore 607 001.

9.District Differently Abled Welfare Office Collectors Office Complex Villupuram.

10.District Differently Abled Welfare Office Collectors Office Complex Dharmapuri.

11.District Differently Abled Welfare Office 146 Venkatesapuram Extention Kumarasamypatty, Salem 636 007.

12.District Differently Abled Welfare Office Collector Office Complex Room No.6, 7, 8 (Ground Floor) Siluvampatti Post Nallipalayam, Namakkal 637 003.

13.District Differently Abled Welfare Office Collectorate Campus Erode 638 011.

14.District Differently Abled Welfare Office Collector Office Complex Coimbatore 641 018.

15.District Differently Abled Welfare Office 29 Club Road, Ooty The Nilgiris District at Udhagamandalam.

16.District Differently Abled Welfare Office M.C. Road Near Membalam Thanjavur 613 001.

17.District Differently Abled Welfare Office Collectorate Complex (Ground Floor) Palpannaicherry (South) Nagapattinam 611 002.

18.District Differently Abled Welfare Office 102 Dhanam Complex, Guru Dekshinamurthy Nagar Collector Office Complex, Tiruvarur.

19.District Differently Abled Welfare Office 1/1 Block 1. Ward J Backside of the District Judicial Court Near Sub Treasury Office, Contonment Trichy 620 001

20.District Differently Abled Welfare Office Collector Office Complex Thanthonimalai Post, Karur-639 002 21.District Differently Abled Welfare Office Permbalur Collectorate Campus Perambalur.-621 212.

22.District Differently Abled Welfare Office Near M.L.A, Office, Pudukottai 23.District Differently Abled Welfare Office Subramanyapuram, Villapuram Post, Housing Unit Madurai-11 24.District Differently Abled Welfare Office Room No.4 Collectorate Campus Dindugal.

25.District Differently Abled Welfare Office Collectorate Complex Pattinamkathan, Ramanathapuram 26.District Differently Abled Welfare Office Collector Office Complex Maruthupandi Nagar, Sivakangai-623 560 27.District Differently Abled Welfare Office Collector Office Complex Virudhunagar 28.District Differently Abled Welfare Office 'B' Collectorate Campus Kokkirakulam, Palauamcottai, Thirunelveli 627 009.

29.District Differently Abled Welfare Office Collector Office Campus Korampallam, Tuticorin-1.

30.District Differently Abled Welfare Office Collectorate Office Campus Kanyakumari District at Nagarcoil-629 001.

31.District Differently Abled Welfare Office Collectorate Complex IInd Floor D.Wing, Krishnagiri.

32.District Differently Abled Welfare Office Office of the Revenue Divisional Officer Ariyalur.

33.District Differently Abled Welfare Office Collectorate Office Campus Tirupur.

34.The District Collector Collectorate Building Ariyalur District 35.The District Collector of Chennai Singaravellar Maligai, Rajaji Salai Chennai-600 001.

36.The District Collector Office of the District Collector Thanjavur District, Thanjavur.

37.The District Collector Office of the District Collector Pudhukottai District.

38.The District Collector Kokkira Kulam Rd, Near Science Centre Kokkirakulam, Tiruneveli Tamilnadu 627 009 39.The District Collector A Block, 2nd Floor Collectorate, Vellore 40.The District Collector First Floor, Collectorate, Sivagangai-630562 41.The District Collector First Floor, Collectorate, Kancheepuram- 631501.

42.The District Collector Collectorate, Vengikkal Tiruvannamali-606604 43.The District Collector First Floor, Collectorate Karur-639001

44.The District Collector National Highway 7A, PSP Nagar Korampallam, Thoothukudi - 628 101, Tamil Nadu.

45.The District Collector NH 7 Kumaraswamy Nagar, Virudhunagar Kooraikundu - 626002, Tamil Nadu 46.The District Collector Collectorate Kellys Road Navalpur, Ranipet-632401 47.The District Collector Collectorate, Kallakurichi-605202 48.The District Collector Collectorate Government Garden Tirupathur-635601 49.The District Collector Raja Colony, Tiruchirappalli - 620001 Tamil Nadu.

50.The District Collector Ist Floor, Salam Main Road Near Superintendent Of Police Office Tamil Nadu 51.The District Collector Mandapam Road, Kadampa Nagar Sakkarakottai, Ramanathapuram Tamil Nadu 623503 52.The District Collector State Highway 96, opp. District Court Palayapalayam - 638011, Tamil Nadu.

53.The District Collector Collectorate RD, Namakkal Tamil Nadu 637001 54.The District Collector First Floor, Collectorate, Nagapattinam-611001 55.The District Collector 7/1 State Bank Rd Gopalapuram, Coimbatore - 641018 Tamil Nadu.

56.The District Collector First Floor, Collectorate Krishnagiri-635001 57.The District Collector Vettunimadam, Kanyakunari - 629001 Tamil Nadu.

58.The District Collector Thiagi Subramania Siva Malihai Velu Nachiyar Valaham Chettinaickenpatti Dindigul - 624004, Tamil Nadu.

59.The District Collector Theni- Madurai Highway Karuvel Bommi Nayakanpattu, Theni District - 625531, Tamil Nadu.

60.The District Collector Master Plan Complex, Nagapattinam Road, Thiruvarur - 610004, Tamil Nadu.

61.The District Collector Collectorate Udhagamandalam-643001 Niligris District 62.The District Collector Fort Main Road Salem - 636001, Tamil Nadu.

63.The District Collector Gundu Salai Road, Pennaiyar Rd., Manjakuppam, Cuddalore - 607001, Tamil Nadu.

64.The District Collector Master Plan Complex NH 205 Chennai-Tiruttani Highway Thiruvallur - 602001, Tamil Nadu.

...Respondents

Prayer : Petition under Article 226 of the Constitution of India seeking issuance of a writ of mandamus directing the respondents to make all the government offices of all department in the State of Tamil Nadu accessible to person with disability will facilities including water, toilets and other basic facilities.

For the Petitioner :

Mr.R.Prabhakran For the Respondents :

Mr.P.Muthukumar State Government Pleader

ORDER

(Order of the Court was made by the Hon'ble Chief Justice) The petition pertains to making all public buildings across the State accessible to persons with disabilities.

2. Pursuant to the previous order of July 5, 2021, an access audit report has been produced. Such report indicates how special access measures have been provided at various public buildings across the State of Tamil Nadu. An affidavit has also been filed on behalf of the Commissionerate for Persons with Disabilities and the Director for Welfare of the Differently Abled. It appears that several public buildings in the State have complied with the guidelines pertaining to access to persons with disabilities, including toilets being installed for such purpose.

3. Mr.P.Muthukumar, learned Government Pleader appearing for the State, says that guidelines and instructions have been issued now to ensure that within the next year all public buildings across the State, except heritage buildings, get appropriate equipment and construction installed that makes such buildings accessible to persons with disabilities.

4. The State's status report indicates that the cut-off date would be in accordance with the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016 and the relevant date would be June 15, 2022.

5. In view of such submission, nothing further needs to be done on this petition except to record that the measures adopted by the State for making all public buildings accessible by persons with disabilities should be put in place within a year from date, failing which the office-bearers in the appropriate department of the State may be proceeded against.

6. W.P.No.2463 of 2021 is disposed of without any order as to costs. W.M.P.Nos.2776 and 2777 of 2021 are closed. Sd/- Assistant Registrar (CS-VI) // True Copy // Sub Assistant Registrar bbr

To:

1.Commissionerate for the Welfare of Differently Abled No.5 Kamarajar Salai Lady wellington College Campus Chennai 600005 2.The Chief Secretary to Government The Government of Tamil Nadu Fort St. George, Chennai-9 3.The District Differently Abled Welfare Officer Forest Office Building D.M.S Compound, Chennai 600006.

4.The District Differently Abled Welfare Officer G.S.T Road (Near Court) Kancheepuram District At Chengalpattu 603 001.

5.The District Differently Abled Welfare Office Collectorate Complex Thiruvallur.

6.The District Differently Abled Welfare Office District Panchayat Office Complex Perumalsamy Building(Ground Floor) Officer's Line (Opp to Muslim School) Vellore.

7.The District Differently Abled Welfare Office District Panchayat Office Complex Ground Floor, Collector Nagar Thiruvannamalai 606 604.

8.The District Differently Abled Welfare Office 37 Ramodass Road Pudupalayam, Cuddalore 607 001.

9.The District Differently Abled Welfare Office Collectors Office Complex Villupuram.

10.The District Differently Abled Welfare Office Collectors Office Complex Dharmapuri.

11.The District Differently Abled Welfare Office 146 Venkatesapuram Extention Kumarasamypatty, Salem 636 007.

12.The District Differently Abled Welfare Office Collector Office Complex Room No.6, 7, 8 (Ground Floor) Siluvampatti Post Nallipalayam, Namakkal 637 003.

13.The District Differently Abled Welfare Office Collectorate Campus Erode 638 011.

14.The District Differently Abled Welfare Office Collector Office Complex Coimbatore 641 018.

15.The District Differently Abled Welfare Office 29 Club Road, Ooty The Nilgiris District at Udhagamandalam.

16.The District Differently Abled Welfare Office M.C. Road Near Membalam Thanjavur 613 001.

17.The District Differently Abled Welfare Office Collectorate Complex (Ground Floor) Palpannaicherry (South) Nagapattinam 611 002.

18.The District Differently Abled Welfare Office 102 Dhanam Complex, Guru Dekshinamurthy Nagar Collector Office Complex, Tiruvarur.

19.The District Differently Abled Welfare Office 1/1 Block 1. Ward J Backside of the District Judicial Court Near Sub Treasury Office, Contonment Trichy 620 001 20.The District Differently Abled Welfare Office Collector Office Complex Thanthonimalai Post, Karur-639 002 21.The District Differently Abled Welfare Office Permbalur Collectorate Campus Perambalur.-621 212.

22.The District Differently Abled Welfare Office Near M.L.A, Office, Pudukottai

23.The District Differently Abled Welfare Office Subramanyapuram, Villapuram Post, Housing Unit Madurai-11 24.The District Differently Abled Welfare Office Room No.4 Collectorate Campus Dindugal.

25.The District Differently Abled Welfare Office Collectorate Complex Pattinamkathan, Ramanathapuram 26.The District Differently Abled Welfare Office Collector Office Complex Maruthupandi Nagar, Sivakangai-623 560 27.The District Differently Abled Welfare Office Collector Office Complex Virudhunagar 28.The District Differently Abled Welfare Office 'B' Collectorate Campus Kokkirakulam, Palauamcottai, Thirunelveli 627 009.

29.The District Differently Abled Welfare Office Collector Office Campus Korampallam, Tuticorin-1.

30.The District Differently Abled Welfare Office Collectorate Office Campus Kanyakumari District at Nagarcoil-629 001.

31.The District Differently Abled Welfare Office Collectorate Complex IInd Floor D.Wing, Krishnagiri.

32.The District Differently Abled Welfare Office Office of the Revenue Divisional Officer Ariyalur.

33.The District Differently Abled Welfare Office Collectorate Office Campus Tirupur.

34.The District Collector Collectorate Building Ariyalur District

35.The District Collector of Chennai Singaravellar Maligai, Rajaji Salai Chennai-600 001.

36.The District Collector Office of the District Collector Thanjavur District, Thanjavur.

37.The District Collector Office of the District Collector Pudhukottai District.

42.The District Collector Collectorate, Vengikkal Tiruvannamali-606604 43.The District Collector First Floor, Collectorate Karur-639001 44.The District Collector National Highway 7A, PSP Nagar Korampallam, Thoothukudi - 628 101, Tamil Nadu.

45.The District Collector NH 7 Kumaraswamy Nagar, Virudhunagar Kooraikundu - 626002, Tamil Nadu 46.The District Collector Collectorate Kellys Road Navalpur, Ranipet-632401

47.The District Collector Collectorate, Kallakurichi-605202 48.The District Collector Collectorate Government Garden Tirupathur-635601 49.The District Collector Raja Colony, Tiruchirappalli - 620001 Tamil Nadu.