Latest news with #State
United News of India
42 minutes ago
- Politics
- United News of India
SC issues comprehensive guidelines for disability-friendly prisons in Tamil Nadu
New Delhi, July 15 (UNI) The Supreme Court today issued a set of comprehensive guidelines to ensure disability rights and accessibility for prisoners with disabilities in all prisons across Tamil Nadu. The directions mandate disability-friendly infrastructure such as accessible toilets, ramps, dedicated spaces for physiotherapy, and other essential facilities. A bench comprising Justice JB Pardiwala and Justice R Mahadevan passed these directions while hearing a special leave petition filed by an advocate with disabilities who suffered due to lack of proper facilities during incarceration in connection with a civil dispute. The Court directed the State to amend the State Prison Manual within six months to bring it in line with the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016 (RPwD Act) and the 2006 United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD). Justice Mahadevan, authoring the judgment, emphasised: 'The State has a constitutional and moral obligation to uphold the rights of prisoners with disabilities. Reasonable accommodations are not optional but integral to any humane and just carceral system.' The Court observed that disabilities must not become a basis for further deprivation or suffering, and called for a systemic transformation grounded in compassion, accountability, and a constitutional commitment to dignity and equality. Key Directions Issued Include, Prompt identification of prisoners with disabilities at admission and provision of rules in accessible formats (Braille, large print, sign language, simplified language). Universal accessibility in prison premises with wheelchair-friendly spaces, accessible toilets, ramps, and sensory-safe environments. Designation of dedicated spaces for physiotherapy, psychotherapy, and therapeutic services. State-level access audit of all prisons within six months, with periodic audits thereafter. Compliance with Sections 40 and 45 of the RPwD Act, 2016, Rule 15 of the 2017 Rules, and Harmonised Guidelines, 2021. Equivalent healthcare for prisoners with disabilities, including assistive devices, physiotherapy, psychiatric services, and medical diets tailored to specific needs. Training of prison medical officers and staff on disability rights, equality, and non-discrimination principles. Revision of the State Prison Manual within six months to include provisions prohibiting discrimination against prisoners with disabilities, and to promote reasonable accommodation. Periodic consultations with civil society organisations working in the disability sector. Constitution of a monitoring committee to conduct inspections and submit compliance reports every three months. Maintenance of disaggregated data on prisoners' disability status, accessibility, accommodations, and medical requirements, to be made public with privacy safeguards. The Director General of Prisons to file a compliance report before the State Human Rights Commission within three months. The matter pertains to that the petitioner suffers from Becker Muscular Dystrophy, Autism Spectrum Disorder, and related psychological conditions. Due to a lack of reasonable accommodations in prison, his health deteriorated. After his release on bail, he was granted compensation of Rs 1 lakh by the Tamil Nadu Human Rights Commission, which also recommended making all prisons accessible in line with the Supreme Court's 2017 Rajiv Raturi judgment recognising accessible infrastructure as part of Article 21. His writ petition before the Madras High Court was dismissed in November 2022, leading to the present appeal before the Supreme Court. UNI SNG RN
New Indian Express
an hour ago
- Politics
- New Indian Express
SC issues guidelines to make Tamil Nadu prisons accessible for prisoners with disabilities
NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Tuesday issued guidelines for prisoners with disabilities across all prisons in Tamil Nadu, as it directed that prisons must be equipped with disability-friendly infrastructure such as accessible toilets, ramps, etc. "The denial of accessibility and essential care to persons with disabilities incarcerated in prisons amounts to violation of fundamental rights under Articles 14 (right to equality) and 21 (right to life and liberty) of the Constitution," said a two-judge Bench of the top court of Justices JB Pardiwala and R Mahadevan. The top court passed the verdict after hearing an appeal filed by one, L Muruganantham, a physically disabled advocate, who had alleged custodial abuse and inadequate medical care while incarcerated in a prison in Tamil Nadu in a case. Upholding the dignity and the healthcare rights of the prisoners with disabilities, the apex court directed the State to amend the State Prison Manual within 6 months to make it in compliance with the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016 (RPwD Act), and other provisions. "Social and structural barriers they face in society are only magnified within the prison environment. Most prison facilities are structurally inaccessible to individuals with mobility, sensory, or cognitive impairments,' the Court said. Highlighting that the State has a constitutional and moral obligation to uphold the rights of prisoners with disabilities, the apex court added, this right was not restricted to ensuring non-discriminatory treatment also carries with it an affirmative right to ensure effective rehabilitation and reintegration into society.
Perth Now
an hour ago
- Sport
- Perth Now
WA teen in race towards ‘dream' of competing at Deaflympics
For the next 100 days, Mandurah teen William Liitiaeinen will be training for his goal of competing at the 2025 Deaflympics in Tokyo. This will be the first time the 19-year-old runner will compete at the Deaflympics after qualifying this summer. 'It means a huge deal to me. It means that I can proudly wear green and gold and make my nation proud of my performances in Tokyo on the track,' Liitiaeinen said. 'It's been a big goal and dream of mine and has been my drive to train hard.' Liitiaeinen started running in 2017 aged 11 and two years later started down the competitive path. The 19-year-old is deaf in both ears without his cochlear implants, which poses unique challenges. 'When it comes to training near or on the road, I can't hear cars or other people. This poses a risk and I need to be extra aware with my other senses as to what I'm doing,' he said. 'I require a reaction-based start since no light is available and it adds extra seconds to my time since I have a delayed start. 'An example would be my 1500m … If I had a light to start, I would have shaved an extra two to three seconds off my time, which would have gotten me the qualifying time and the Open T01 Deaf National Record.' William Liitiaeinen. Credit: Supplied Deaf athletes also face unique challenges as to where they can compete or what training support they qualify for. In Australia, Liitiaeinen can compete with other para-athletes in track and cross-country, but faces a handicap. 'The sports world is slowly starting to become more inclusive to include deaf people by having an event for us,' Liitiaeinen. 'On the world stage, however, it does lack. The deaf classification is one of the very few classifications not recognised in the Paralympics or World Athletics Para events, so it does restrict the international opportunities that we deaf people have. 'Another thing that could be improved on the inclusive side of things in Australia is that the State and Australian government announced a deal for para-athletes to train at WAIS (WA Institute of Sport) and AIS (Australian Institute of Sports), however it only applies to Paralympic athletes and Deaflympic athletes won't get the same opportunity despite being a para class and competing on the world stage for Australia. 'So there is definitely some room for improvement.' There is also no financial support for Deaflympians or TV coverage. 'I don't think there is enough coverage or support,' Liitiaeinen said. 'It is not broadcast on TV like the Olympics … most people don't even know what the Deaflympics is until I talk about it and explain it to them. 'There's not much support for it either as every athlete has to pay or fundraise $6500 each to compete for Australia; (this covers) flights, accommodation, travel, uniforms, and entry fees. 'This does not include food which is another expense on top of this. The Deaflympics is a recognised event by the International Olympic Committee and the Australian government does not offer any support or funding to send athletes over.' Liitiaeinen has started a GoFundMe to help pay for this and so he can compete in the 1500m and 5000m divisions. While competing at Athletics West he starts when someone taps his back after the gun goes off or when everyone else moves. This means his times can be a couple seconds slower than they should be. In Tokyo, Liitiaeinen hopes to shave these seconds from his run as the Deaflympics uses start lights to signify go for the runners. 'We currently don't have this system available in Perth to use,' Liitiaeinen said. William Liitiaeinen. Credit: Supplied 'The accommodations I need during races are to make people aware of my deafness and if required have someone come and tap my shoulder to start. 'In State and National events, I also need someone to come and grab my cochlears as I take them off when I race at the start line after hearing the briefing. 'At training I just have to make sure to get my instructions from my coach before I start training where I take my cochlears off.' He will be heading to Tokyo alongside his training partner Josh Reeve. The pair both train under Suzi Graves. 'I hope to send a message to other deaf people that anything is possible when you put your mind to it, and I'm hoping that it helps open the door to more deaf people realising the opportunities and wanting to compete,' Liitiaeinen said. Liitiaeinen fits a gruelling daily training schedule around his heavy diesel mechanical apprenticeship and hopes to compete at the 2028 Oceania Deaf Games, the Deaf World Championship and Deaf World Cross Country events in the future. The Deaflympics is a four-yearly event, with the 25th Summer Games going for 12 days from November 15 to 26.
Irish Daily Mirror
2 hours ago
- Irish Daily Mirror
Teen born in prison learns fate after stealing €360 worth of clothes
A youth described as 'failed by the State' – born in prison, predisposed to addiction from infancy, and having spent his life in care – has been spared a custodial sentence for theft. The harrowing background was revealed when the now 18-year-old pleaded guilty to stealing €360 worth of clothes from a sportswear outlet in Tallaght, Dublin, on November 24 last. He cannot be named because he was 17 at the time of the offence and a juvenile when charged. At the Dublin Children's Court sentence hearing, Martin Dwan BL, defending, referred to the contents of a pre-sentence probation report and another from his guardian ad litem (GAL), a specialist appointed by a court to represent the best interests of a child in legal proceedings. Counsel detailed the teen's background, telling Judge Brendan Toale that the youth had been born in prison because his mother had been in custody and had serious addiction issues. He was also born with foetal alcoholism, and Mr Dwan emphasised the youth's "tragic start in life", likening it to a "heavy millstone around his neck". From infancy, he was in care, but at the age of six, he was placed in a foster home with a family, remaining there for a decade, where he had "stability and a good nurturing life". However, the youth was "taken out" of that placement and later relocated to care homes around the country, lacking parental guidance. The Irish Mirror's Crime Writers Michael O'Toole and Paul Healy are writing a new weekly newsletter called Crime Ireland. Click here to sign up and get it delivered to your inbox every week Mr Dwan quoted another judge, who dealt with one of the youth's earlier cases, that he was "absolutely failed by the State in that regard". An eleventh-hour GAL report was drafted when he turned 18 and reached adulthood, as Tusla implemented an aftercare plan. The youth listened intently but did not address the proceedings. The court heard that due to his mother's drinking problems, the teen was predisposed to addiction. Mr Dwan elaborated about how the teen went on to attend child and adolescent mental health services with issues including PTSD. The court heard that some problems coincided with the ending of his long-term foster placement; the teenager connected with his family and started to come to garda attention, while abusing alcohol and drugs, which he had a predisposition to from birth. At one stage, the substance abuse induced psychosis, resulting in the teen being hospitalised. Judge Toale noted the pre-sentence report assessed the young man as being at moderate risk of reoffending. He also noted the contents of the GAL report and what he termed the "extraordinary background" to the case, and placed the teenager on supervised probation for six months. During that time, he must not reoffend and must comply with the directions of his probation officer to divert him from further offending; otherwise, the case could be reopened and a harsher penalty considered. Subscribe to our newsletter for the latest news from the Irish Mirror direct to your inbox: Sign up here.
The Hindu
3 hours ago
- Science
- The Hindu
ANRF unveils PM Professorships to bolster research in State universities
To tap into the expertise of retired scientists, the Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF) — the newly constituted body for funding scientific research — has announced the Prime Minister Professorships. Each selected Professor will receive an annual fellowship of ₹30 lakh, along with ₹24 lakh as a research grant for consumables, domestic travel, contingencies, equipment and other expenses. An overhead of ₹1 lakh per annum has also been provisioned. The Science and Engineering Research Board (SERB), now subsumed under the ANRF, had earlier administered the SERB Distinguished Fellowship for retired scientists. That scheme offered a research grant of ₹20 lakh per annum and a monthly fellowship of ₹60,000. Unlike previous fellowships, the new initiative is also open to overseas scientists, including Non-Resident Indians, Persons of Indian Origin, and Overseas Citizens of India. Additionally, professionals from industry and experienced Professors of Practice with a 'distinguished record' of research and innovation are eligible to apply. A key distinction of the new programme is that recipients must be based at State universities that qualify as 'spoke' institutions under Category A of the recently introduced Promoting Advanced and Inclusive Research (PAIR) programme of the ANRF. The PAIR initiative links universities with nascent research ecosystems to top-tier institutions in a mentorship arrangement. Select Central Universities, National Institutes of Technology and Indian Institutes of Information Technology have been classified as 'spoke' institutions, while institutions ranked 25 or below in the National Institutional Ranking Framework are designated as 'hubs'. The selected Professors are expected to relocate, if necessary, to the host university and provide 'sustained academic and research support to faculty and students in institutions with emerging research capacity'. 'Applicants with strong research credentials must be actively involved in research and innovation activities, and demonstrate a strong commitment to mentor faculty at the eligible State universities where research and innovation is still at a nascent stage,' stated a note from the ANRF announcing the fellowship.
