'Judiciary will take up rights of handicapped on priority'

Bangalore, May 18 (UNI) Karnataka High Court Jugde Mr Justice V Gopal Gowda today assured that the judiciary will take up the issue of implementation of the rights of the disabled on a priority basis.

In his inaugural address at a conference on Persons with Disabilities Act here, he said the Supreme Court had instructed the courts to take up the issues on top priority.

''Despite these instructions, we are lagging behind in the protection of human rights of the disabled persons getting equal opportunities on par with abled persons,'' Mr Justice Gowda rued.

He asked the media to play a pivotal role by reporting such violations by various departments and assured that the judiciary would take up the reports as Public Interest Litigations.

The conference would discuss the proactive role of the judiciary in the implementation of the Act.

UNI SIV GD GM1224