Delhi High Court: Disabled Children & Reasonable Accommodation in Private Schools

The Delhi High Court reaffirmed that private schools are constitutionally and statutorily obligated to provide reasonable accommodation to children with disabilities under the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act (RPwD Act), 2016. The HC clarified that “reasonable accommodation” does not mean lowering standards or altering essential curriculum, but making necessary adjustments—physical infrastructure modifications, assistive devices, inclusive pedagogy, etc.—so that disabled students are not discriminated against. Where private schools fail in this duty, affected students may approach courts or tribunals for enforcement. The Court emphasized continuous monitoring by appropriate authorities to ensure compliance. The ruling underscores that inclusion is not optional but part of equal rights under Indian law, and schools must adapt to the needs of disabled children rather than expecting them to adapt to exclusionary systems.