The Supreme Court issued notice to the Union of India and other principal respondents in a public interest litigation (PIL) highlighting systemic apathy towards persons with neurodivergent conditions, including autism, cerebral palsy, dyslexia, and multiple disabilities.
The Bench of Justices B.V. Nagarathna and K.V. Viswanathan was hearing the PIL filed by Action for Autism, which alleges gross non-implementation of key welfare legislations such as the National Trust Act, 1999. The Court clarified that notices to the States would be issued at a later stage and fixed the matter for further hearing on 29 August 2025.
Appearing for the petitioners, Senior Advocate Mr. Anand Sharma delivered a sharp critique of the authorities’ failure to translate constitutional guarantees, statutory protections, and binding obligations under the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD) into effective protections.
Appearances:
Petitioners: Mr. Anand Sharma, Adv.; Ms. Shimpy Sharma, Adv.; Mr. Vishwanathan Iyer, Adv.; Ms. Pooja Sharma, Adv.; Ms. Yeshasvi Shrivastava, Adv.; Ms. Priya Pachouri, Adv.; Mr. Mohd. Arham, Adv.; Ms. Priyanka Dubey, Adv.; Dr. Vinod Kumar Tewari, AOR