Contempt notice to GCC ex-commissioner in wheelchair access case

Chennai: Madras high court has ordered statutory notice to Greater Chennai Corporation’s (GCC) former commissioner J Kumaragurubaran IAS in a contempt of court petition filed against him for allegedly disobeying court orders regarding rectification of bollards installed in pedestrian pathways that hinder movement of wheelchairs.

The first bench of Chief Justice Sushrut Arvind Dharmadhikari and Justice G Arul Murugan however, dispensed with the personal appearance of the officer for the present and adjourned the hearing to July 2. The court passed the order on Monday, on a contempt of court petition moved by Bhavana Botta.

In 2023, the petitioner, a disability rights activist, moved the court seeking to remove all bollards constructed in violation of the Harmonised Guidelines and Standards for Universal Design Accessibility obstructing the free movement of wheelchairs in pavements or other structures.

The petitioner, who suffers with cerebral palsy, submitted that bollards have been erected in violation of statues without space for a wheelchair or pram to pass through. All the pavements outside the Central railway station, pedestrian plaza in T Nagar, Poonamallee high road at Nehru Park station, and pavements near Loyola College have bollards which obstruct the movement of wheelchairs, she said.

On Sept 12, 2023, the then advocate-general told the court that he had instructed the authorities concerned to take suitable action against the bollards constructed, causing hindrance to the disabled persons. Necessary rectification would be undertaken and the same would be complied with as per the Guidelines and Standards for Universal Design Accessibility in India, 2021. The said work would be undertaken by all the authorities, as necessary instructions have also been given to all the authorities concerned.

Recording the submission, the then first bench disposed of the petition and said, “We hope and trust that compliance would be made.” However, since the undertaking was not honoured, the petitioner has moved the present contempt of court petition.