A division bench comprising judges Vijender Jain and Rekha Sharma directed
the chairman to appear in the court Dec 19 when counsel for the Railway
Board failed to satisfy it on the point of building ramps at railways
stations to allow the physically challenged to board trains without hassles.

The bench also directed the Airports Authority of India (AAI), which is
responsible for the management of airfields across the country, to send
senior officers to the court on the next date to apprise it of steps taken
to facilitate the entry of disabled people into airports.

The court was hearing a public interest litigation by noted rights activist
Javed Abidi, who had sought directions for setting up ramps for the
physically challenged as provided under the Persons With Disabilities
(Equal Opportunities, Protection of Rights and Full Participation) Act 1995.

The act makes it mandatory for the central and state governments to
provide such facility for the disabled.

Ashok Aggarwal, amicus curiae in the matter, said the railways should
learn from the Delhi Metro Railway Corporation (DMRC), which had taken
care of the needs of the physically challenged at its stations.