CRIMINAL LAW

Jeeja Ghosh and Anr v. Union of India & Ors: Strengthening the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in Aviation

The Jeeja Ghosh and Anr v. Union of India & Ors (2016) case was a landmark moment in asserting the rights of individuals with disabilities in India’s aviation industry. Jeeja Ghosh, an activist who has cerebral palsy, was forcibly removed from a SpiceJet flight, prompting a landmark Supreme Court decision. The Court reiterates the provisions of accessibility and reasonable accommodation as core rights, mandating compensation and stressing the importance of sensitivity training in airlines. This ruling reiterated the legal and ethical mandate to ensure dignity and non-discrimination for disabled travelers under the RTI Act and international standards.

CRIMINAL LAW

Can the Identity of Examiners Be Disclosed Under the RTI Act?

India’s Right to Information Act, 2005, makes citizens capable of accessing information possessed by public authorities, enhancing transparency. The revelation of examiners’ names under this Act is still controversial. The Supreme Court, in a 2016 judgment, held that the disclosure of examiners’ names would put their lives at risk and distort the system of examination, invoking a relationship of fiduciary between examiners and bodies such as the Public Service Commission. Section 8(1)(g) of the RTI Act also shields such information when disclosure risks life or safety. Therefore, the identities of examiners are normally exempted, weighing transparency against security interests.