News

Volume 7 Issue 7 - April 01, 2010

High Court reserves seats for dyslexic students in Delhi University

D.N.I.S. News Network, India: Six years after the Public Interest Litigation (P.I.L.) was filed in the Delhi High Court to reserve seats for dyslexic students in the Delhi University, students with dyslexia have a reason to rejoice.

A P.I.L. was filed in the Delhi High Court by Disabled Rights Group (D.R.G.) arguing that, "dyslexia is a distinct form of disability." It sought direction to the authorities concerned to extend all benefits, relaxation and concessions under the Disability Act to those with this neurological disorder.

When the P.I.L. was filed in 2004, the University had refused to provide reservation arguing that the Chief Commissioner of Persons with Disabilities said that dyslexia was not a disability under the Act. However last year, the Commissioner's office and the Directorate General of Health Services (D.G.H.S.) changed their stand and announced through an affidavit that: "Dyslexia can be considered under the mental retardation category.”

Acting Chief Justice Madan B. Lokur and Justice Mukta Gupta in their judgment said, "In light of the opinion of D.G.H.S. as well as the revised view of the Chief Commissioner of Persons with Disabilities, the University can certainly include dyslexics with 40 per cent or more disability for the grant of benefits under Section 39 of the Act."

C.B.S.E. has already recognised dyslexia as an impairment and provides certain concessions to dyslexic candidates. Delhi University, finally, admitted defeat and on March 9, filed an affidavit stating that their "Vice Chancellor has approved for grant of admission under 3 percent disability quota, for persons with dyslexia with 40 percent or more disability under Section 39 of the Persons with Disability Act, 1995.”