Uttar Pradesh Launches Its First Braille Library at DSMNRU Lucknow: A Legal Landmark for Disability Rights

The new Braille library at DSMNRU Lucknow is the first of its kind in Uttar Pradesh, offering over 4,000 titles in Braille, including textbooks, literature, and legal reference materials. This facility is part of the university’s mandate under the RPWD Act, 2016 to promote inclusive education and barrier-free access to information.

For the visually impaired community in UP, this library is more than a collection of books — it is a tangible enforcement of the right to read and learn. In Nitesh Gupta v. State of U.P. (a writ petition under Section 12 of the RPWD Act, 2016), the Allahabad High Court explicitly directed that public documents must be made available in Braille and other accessible formats for blind persons. This ruling directly supports the creation of Braille libraries in all government-funded institutions.

• Section 12 of the RPWD Act mandates access to justice and information in accessible formats.
• Section 44 of the RPWD Act requires all public buildings, including universities, to be barrier-free.
• BNS Section 117 (old IPC equivalent) criminalizes denial of access to public places for PwDs.
• BNSS Section 357 provides the procedure for enforcing accessibility orders issued by courts.

Two landmark rulings from the Allahabad High Court (Lucknow Bench) directly underpin the legal framework for the DSMNRU Braille library.

Case 1: M/s SCC Builders Pvt. Ltd. v. State of U.P. & Others (WP 5663/2026)

In this judgment delivered on 26 February 2026, the Lucknow Bench of the Allahabad High Court held that the right to accessibility is a fundamental right under Article 21 (life and dignity) and Article 14 (equality). The Court directed that no building plan can be approved and no completion certificate issued unless it complies with accessibility standards under Section 44 of the RPWD Act, 2016. This reinforces that libraries, reading rooms, and digital kiosks must be barrier-free for PwDs.

• Legal Principle: Accessibility to common facilities (including libraries) is part of the fundamental right to life.
• Applicable BNSS Section: BNSS Section 357 (enforcement of accessibility orders).
• Timeline: Writ petitions at the Lucknow Bench are decided in 6–12 months.
• Filing Fee: Rs. 500–Rs. 2,000 for writ petition; legal fees range from Rs. 1,000–Rs. 5,000.

Case 2: Nitesh Gupta v. State of U.P. (Writ under Section 12, RPWD Act, 2016)

This case, filed by a blind petitioner, established that government authorities must make public documents available in Braille and other accessible formats. The Allahabad High Court mandated that access to justice for PwDs cannot be denied due to lack of Braille materials.

• Legal Principle: Section 12 of RPWD Act requires accessible formats for all court and government documents.
• Relevance to Braille Library: Directly supports the obligation of DSMNRU and other state universities to maintain Braille collections.
• Applicable BNS Sections: BNS Section 117 and Section 118 (non-compliance with accessibility norms).

The Rights of Persons with Disabilities (RPWD) Act, 2016 is the primary legislation governing the rights of PwDs in India. Sections 12 and 44 are particularly relevant to the new Braille library.

Under Section 12 of RPWD Act, the appropriate government must ensure that all public documents, including legal notices, court judgments, and government schemes, are available in accessible formats. The Allahabad High Court in Nitesh Gupta applied this section to mandate Braille conversion. Section 44 requires all public buildings to be barrier-free, which includes providing ramps, tactile paving, and accessible libraries.

• Section 12: Accessible formats (Braille, audio, large print) for all official documents.
• Section 44: Barrier-free access for all public buildings and facilities.
• BNS Section 117: Offence of denying access — punishable with imprisonment up to 6 months and fine.
• BNSS Section 357: Procedure for enforcing court orders on accessibility — allows aggrieved persons to file complaint before Magistrate.

For residents of Lucknow and Uttar Pradesh, these provisions can be enforced through a writ petition before the Allahabad High Court (Lucknow Bench). If a government university or institution fails to provide Braille books or accessible facilities, a petition under Article 226 of the Constitution can be filed. The timeline for such petitions at the Lucknow Bench is approximately 6–12 months for a final hearing.

If you or a family member are facing denial of Braille books or barrier-free access in any government institution in Lucknow or UP, here is a step-by-step legal roadmap based on the Allahabad High Court rulings and the RPWD Act.

1. Send a legal notice to the institution under Section 12 of RPWD Act demanding accessible formats within 30 days.
2. File a complaint under BNS Section 117 with the local Magistrate if the institution fails to comply. The Magistrate can summon the responsible officer.
3. Approach the Allahabad High Court (Lucknow Bench) via a writ petition under Article 226 seeking a mandamus to enforce accessibility standards. The filing fee is Rs. 500–Rs. 2,000.
4. Engage a criminal lawyer to file a private complaint under BNSS Section 357 if the denial constitutes a criminal offence under BNS Sections 117 or 118.

• Timeline for writ petition before Lucknow Bench: 6–12 months for admission and final hearing.
• Legal fees: Rs. 1,000–Rs. 5,000 for drafting and filing; Rs. 5,000–Rs. 15,000 for full representation before High Court.
• Documents required: Copy of the legal notice, proof of denial (email/letter), and a copy of the RPWD Act, 2016.

These remedies were explicitly upheld by the Allahabad High Court in M/s SCC Builders (2026) and Nitesh Gupta cases. For immediate assistance, consult with an experienced criminal lawyer in Lucknow who handles disability rights cases.

The DSMNRU Braille library is not an isolated project — it signals a shift in how Uttar Pradesh courts are likely to interpret accessibility obligations in future cases. The Allahabad High Court (Lucknow Bench) has already held in M/s SCC Builders that accessibility is a fundamental right. With the state’s first Braille library now operational, courts may be less tolerant of institutions that continue to deny Braille-format documents.

For visually impaired litigants in Lucknow, this development means that courts may now presume that Braille copies of judgments, notices, and legal documents are available. If an institution fails to provide them, the court may invoke BNS Section 117 and impose penalties on the responsible officer. Additionally, Section 44 of RPWD Act can be used to demand Braille books in all civil courts, family courts, and sessions courts in Lucknow.

• Impact on Family Law: Divorce or maintenance notices can now be demanded in Braille.
• Impact on Criminal Law: FIR copies and bail orders must be provided in accessible formats.
• Impact on Property Disputes: Sale deeds and title documents should be converted to Braille upon request.

If you are involved in any bail matter or FIR quashing and need Braille-format documents, you can cite the Nitesh Gupta ruling at the Allahabad High Court Lucknow Bench. This right is enforceable immediately under the RPWD Act, without any further legislation.

Advocate Onkar Pandey is a practicing lawyer at the Allahabad High Court Lucknow Bench with over 25 years of experience in criminal law, bail matters, FIR quashing, and family law. Enrolled with the Bar Council of Uttar Pradesh (No. UP/4825/1999), he provides expert legal guidance to clients across Uttar Pradesh from his chamber at A-406, High Court, Lucknow. For a consultation on disability rights, Braille access, and RPWD Act enforcement, contact Advocate Onkar Pandey at +91 98392 71553.