Overview
- The Karnataka High Court on June 10, 2026 dismissed a school’s challenge, confirmed a State Commissioner order ordering PSBB Learning Leadership Academy to pay Rs. 10 lakh to teacher Barnali Raut, and issued a 465‑page judgment that includes a court‑crafted Standard Operating Procedure for universal accessibility.
- The SOP requires staged compliance: liaison officers in three months, rule framing and initial accessibility works in six months, full physical accessibility and a compliance portal in 12 months, and full digital accessibility certification within 24 months.
- The order prescribes detailed technical minimums such as a 1:12 ramp gradient, 1500 mm corridor width, 1500×2000 mm accessible toilets, lift‑cab dimensions and WCAG 2.1 AA digital standards, and requires accessibility audits by empanelled auditors before occupancy certificates are issued for public buildings.
- Enforcement measures include fines, continuing penalties, suspension of trade licences, possible criminal prosecution under Section 89, mandatory renewal audits, surprise inspections, and the creation of a State Accessibility Authority and district committees to oversee compliance.
- The judgment clarifies that the RPwD Act applies to private establishments, affirms the State Commissioner’s power to issue binding corrective directions, and orders reasonable workplace accommodations for Ms. Raut such as a ground‑floor wheelchair‑accessible classroom, a disabled‑friendly washroom, transport allowance and online teaching options.