Court allows blind student to pursue physiotherapy course

In a significant judgement, the Bombay High court has allowed a blind student to pursue physiotherapy course as it struck down a decision of Maharashtra State Occupational Therapy and Physiotherapy Council denying permission to the student to get admission in the course.

A division bench comprising Justice Gautam Patel and Justice Nila Gokhale passed the order on a petition moved by the student Jill Jain.

The Court said that it was our moral duty to help those people who needed our help as a society and as a state government.

The court accepted the petition of Jain who was 40% blind. Earlier the state council had cancelled his admission in the Physiotherapy course saying that Physiotherapists have to do their duty in Operation Theater, Surgical units and ICU and so blind students could not be permitted to do this course.

The bench said that there were many students who were blind but still they performed their duties very well.

The court also said that it was totally irresponsible and reprehensible that blind people could not fulfill the ethical and legal parameters of the responsibilities given to them.

Jain had completed his 12^th in March 2022 and wanted to pursue Physiotherapy course. Following an interim order passed by the High Court in October 2022, Jain was allowed to appear in NEET UG 2022 and was admitted to the Physiotherapy course at Nair Hospital in Mumbai. He is in first year right now.