NEW DELHI: The Delhi High Court has directed the Union Railway Ministry to provide wheelchairs at all stations for the physically challenged. If the facility is not provided, the station masters will be held liable.

A Division Bench of the Court comprising Justices Vijender Jain and Rekha Sharma also asked the Ministry to file a reply on availability of coaches, drinking water facilities and amenities friendly to the physically challenged.

The Bench was hearing a public interest litigation (PIL) petition by the Disabled Rights Group.

The Bench also issued notices to Indian airline, Jet Airways, Sahara Airlines, Air Deccan, Spice Jet and Kingfisher Airlines asking them to apprise the court of the facilities they provided on flights for the physically challenged.

It directed the Airports Authority of India (AAI) to file an affidavit on its plan to modernise airports with reference to proposals for providing facilities friendly to the physically challenged.

The Bench issued notices to the airlines when AAI counsel said provision of on-flight facilities was the responsibility of individual carriers.

The High Court last November summoned the Railway Board Chairman to inform it what the Railways had done for facilitating physically challenged passengers to board trains. The Bench summoned him when the Board counsel failed to satisfy it on building ramps.

It directed the AAI to apprise it of the steps the Authority had taken on this count.

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