News

Volume 6 Issue 7 - September 15, 2009

High Court directs Centre to reconsider discriminatory insurance rules

D.N.I.S. News Network, India: Delhi High Court has directed the Centre to reconsider its Postal Insurance Rules which discriminate against people with disabilities. The rules consider all disabilities under one category and do not distinguish between life expectancy and other factors related to different disabilities. Moreover, people with disability currently have to pay a greater premium to get an insurance cover of Rs. 1 lakh while a non - disabled person gets a cover of Rs. 5 lakhs at a much lesser premium.

Hearing a petition filed by Vikas Gupta, a visually impaired person, a bench comprising Chief Justice A.P. Shah and Justice Manmohan directed the government to file their reply about their stand on this issue to the court within September.

Appearing on behalf of the government, Solicitor General Gopal Subramanium assured the court that the government will have broad base consultation with experts and also take advice from insurance regulators and draft a fresh policy which will put people with disability at par with non - disabled people.

The next hearing of the case will be on October 7.