Deploy audio announcement system for the blind in all major bus stops in two years: Karnataka High Court

Bengaluru: The audio announcement system benefiting persons with disability should be made available at all major bus stops and points in each district and taluk within the next two years, the Karnataka High Court has said.

A division bench comprising Chief Justice NV Anjaria and Justice KV Aravind said this while disposing of a PIL filed by Shreyas, a resident of Bengaluru, who also runs the NGO, ‘Shreyas Global Trust for Social Cause’.

“The case is won when justice is done. At different bus stops and points of embarkment and destination, the loud speaker system should be operated to guide differently abled persons to facilitate their movement to enter and exit the buses. The local authorities concerned shall earmark sufficient funds in the budgetary provision for this scheme to be continuously operated. A team of supervising employees should be deployed at the major points/bus stops to physically guide, assist, and help persons with disability, so that they can have the benefits of the audio announcement system effectively and fruitfully,” the court said.

The petitioner, who himself is a visually impaired person, had represented the difficulty being faced by visually impaired persons in KSRTC and BMTC buses as well as metro lines.

In their reply, the BMTC stated that of their 6,234 buses, 5,694 vehicles are fitted with voice announcement systems. The BMTC has reserved four seats for persons with disability in all the buses, out of which two seats are for men and two for women.

On the other hand, KSRTC stated that it has issued 2,053 free bus passes for visually impaired persons living within the area of operation of the BMTC, which are valid in all buses, except premier buses.

The bench observed that the petitioner has interviewed similarly placed persons, and their complaints and grievances show the despicable mindset of the society towards persons with disability or differently abled persons. The petitioner had further stated that the facility was withdrawn.

“A visually impaired person, unless properly guided, would find it extremely difficult to recognise the buses, time, and place of embarkment to the buses and the bus stop where he would be intending to get down. A loud speaker system with announcements is of immense help to a visually impaired or blind person. In withdrawing such a facility, the respondent authorities indeed had not only disregarded, but negated the statutory mandate and the laudable ideals of equality and social justice to the class of differently abled persons, including the visually impaired,” the bench said, directing the authorities to continue the facility efficiently in respect of the buses run by the BMTC/KSRTC.