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YB WEB DESK. Dated: 9/23/2021 6:05:23 AM

SC reserves verdict on plea seeking free education to every child with special needs

New Delhi, Sep 22 The Supreme Court on Wednesday reserved its judgment on a petition seeking directions to ensure free and compulsory education to each and every Child With Special Need (CWSN)/Disabled Children by initiating the process of appointment of Special Teachers as per the Teacher Pupil ratio, which is 1:5. A bench of Justices A.M. Khanwilkar, Dinesh Maheshwari and C.T. Ravikumar asked Madhavi Divan, appearing for the Union of India and Advocate Shoeb Alam, appearing for petitioner Rajneesh Kumar Pandey, to look for solutions. The Court observed that since there are not enough resources, efforts need to be made in training the teachers also, so that the special children are imparted with good quality education. The Court mentioned schemes such as Samagra Scheme, Deen Dayal Rehabilitation Scheme and Sarva Shiksha Scheme before Advocate Alam, stating that he was urging to scrap the schemes, raising an issue that was contrary to law. Justice Khanwilkar said that there are no remedial measures as of now in regard to providing basic education to special children, who need to be trained. “The scheme is solution to today’s problem,” he said. ASG Madhavi Divan for Union of India submitted that there are two types of school, one which falls under the Ministry of Education and another which falls under the Department of Ministry of Social Justice. As per Section 31 of the Right to Education Act, 2009, every child with benchmark disability between the age of 6-18 years shall have the right to free education in a neighbourhood school, or in a special school, of his choice.