The Madras High Court disposed a PIL without giving any directions/relief which sought removal of the ‘derogatory terminologies’ (divyang/divyangjan) or ‘mental retardation’ or any such terminologies from use in all legislation, policies, government regulations and government websites and from public discourse. The Court while disposing the PIL remarked that “While the effort of the petitioner is appreciated to ensure that otherwise abled persons or persons with disabilities are not demeaned or treated as pariah as a result of the manner of description of such persons, the greater emphasis should be on the effective measures adopted by the State rather than following the fad of political correctness as to the expressions used to describe them.”
Madras High Court Rejects PIL Challenging Use Of ‘Derogatory Terminologies’ (Divyang/Divyangjan) For Persons With Disabilities
Written by POSH at Work