Governor Should Ensure Priority for Persons with Disabilities in Himachal on Chandigarh Pattern: Sud–Khanna• Navdeep Sud and Avinash Rai Khanna Submit Memorandum on Disability Rights to Himachal Governor• Sud–Khanna Meet Governor Seeking Enforcement of Statutory Rights of Persons with Disabilities• Navdeep Sud Seeks Himachal Governor’s Intervention for Implementation of Section 25(1)(c)• Navdeep Sud and Former MP Khanna Urge Governor to Ensure Rights of Persons with Disabilities

Hoshiarpur/ September 2/Daljeet Ajnoha 

Seeking priority medical facilities for Persons with Disabilities in hospitals, Navdeep Sud, President, Aatmsukh Aatmdev Aashram (For Living Gods), Hoshiarpur, and former Member of Parliament Avinash Rai Khanna submitted a memorandum to the Hon’ble Governor of Himachal Pradesh.

The memorandum requested effective implementation of Section 25(1)(c) of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016 in the State. The provision specifically provides for “priority in attendance and treatment” for Persons with Disabilities in healthcare facilities.

Navdeep Sud, President of Aatmsukh Aashram, apprised the Hon’ble Governor that despite the existence of a clear statutory provision, Persons with Disabilities are still required to wait in long queues for registration, OPD consultation, diagnostic tests, medicines and medical treatment.

He pointed out that prolonged waiting causes serious hardship particularly to persons with intellectual disabilities, autism, cerebral palsy, visual impairment, hearing impairment and locomotor disabilities. He emphasised that priority for Persons with Disabilities is not a matter of charity or concession, but a statutory right granted by Parliament.

The memorandum also referred to the directions issued by the Chandigarh Administration on March 17, 2026, under which arrangements were made in Government hospitals for priority counters, fast-track facilities, sensitisation of hospital staff and display of information boards for Persons with Disabilities.

On the occasion, Navdeep Sud and Avinash Rai Khanna urged the Governor to ensure that similar arrangements are implemented in all Government and private hospitals, medical colleges and healthcare institutions across Himachal Pradesh.

They demanded that Persons with Disabilities be given priority in registration, OPD consultation, diagnostic tests, pharmacy services and treatment. They also sought prominent display of boards stating “PRIORITY FOR PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES” and appointment of nodal officers for prompt redressal of complaints.

Navdeep Sud said that a law becomes meaningful only when its benefits actually reach the people for whom it has been enacted.