JAIPUR: The court of the state commissioner for specially-abled persons issued an order recommending department of Rajbhasha, social justice and empowerment department and directorate of specially-abled persons to translate the “Rajasthan Rights of Persons with Disabilities Rules, 2018” into Hindi for the convenience of Hindi speaking populace of the state.

It said Rajasthan being a Hindi speaking state, it was an obligation of the state to make law accessible to the general public and “non-translation of the rules primarily violates the spirit of the RPwD Act, 2016”.

“All states are supposed to frame their own rules in accordance with the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016. If the rules are not written in Hindi, how would specially-abled persons in Rajasthan become aware abouts the rights given to them under the Act,” said Uma Shankar Sharma, commissioner, specially-abled persons. The rules made by the central government have been translated into Hindi, but the rules framed by the government of Rajasthan are yet to be translated into the Hindi language. The purpose and objective of any law is to provide benefit to the general public, and it should always be in a language that can be understood by the general public. Rajasthan being a Hindi Speaking State, it is rather an obligation of the state to make the law accessible to the general public,” Sharma said in the order.

 “This is a very important action for proper implementation of the RPwD Act, 2016, and its provisions. This non-translation of the rules primarily violates the spirit of the RPwD Act. Central rules have also been translated in time, but the action needs to be taken in Rajasthan. This Court had earlier also sent a letter No. 294 dated April 21, 2022, whereby it was recommended that Hindi translation of rules of 2017 be made available, but no action has been taken in pursuance thereto,” it added.

“The compliance report in this regard be sent to this office within a period of 30 days after receipt of a copy of this order.”