Satisfied with the steps promised by the Delhi University to ensure visually impaired students have full access to its teaching experience when the four-year programme starts, the Delhi high court on Wednesday disposed of a PIL raising the issue.

A division bench comprising acting chief justice B D Ahmed and justice Vibhu Bakhru, however, directed DU that the facilities for visually impaired students should be in place by July 23 so that the 361 students already admitted don't feel left behind. The bench also allayed apprehensions of NGO Sambhavana that DU's claim of having spruced up the infrastructure for the visual impaired is an "eyewash". The court said DU is duty bound to implement recommendations made by its Empowered Committee which was formed at the behest of the court to consider and redress their grievances. 

Appearing for DU, senior advocate Pinky Anand placed before the bench the committee's report and informed it that students will be supplied laptops which have Non Visual Desktop Access (NVDA) software, which will help them with introductory courses in maths and science. Even though the NGO's counsel Pankaj Sinha argued there are no books in accessible format and teachers are not trained properly, HC reposed faith in statements by DU and gave Sinha the liberty to move court again if he remains unhappy with the facilities. 

Source: Times of India