03 August 2010
By Rebecca Samervel
Mumbai,India
Even as it granted her the permission, the HC division bench, of Chief Justice Mohit Shah and Justice S C Dharmadhikar, chastised the government, saying when disabled people were trying to make a difference, the state should change their mindset and give them a chance.
Purohit moved the high court when she was barred from appearing for the MHCET exams. The HC, however, allowed her to take the exams and after clearing it, Purohit sought admission to the physiotherapy course at G S Medical College. However, the institute denied her admission; the state said Purohit was not being granted admission on the grounds that "the course required handling of certain electrical devices that might pose a problem for the student’’.
Purohit’s lawyer Kanchan Pamnani, also visually impaired, said it would be difficult for her to study but not impossible.
Ordering the authorities to grant her provisional admission and the chance to attend classes, the court said, "This mindset has to change. You must feel from within...many families have disabled people. That doesn’t mean you don’t accept them.’’ "Nothing is going to work out unless you make a beginning somewhere sometime,’’ said Chief Justice Shah.
Purohit’s parents Shekar and Shaswati could hardly hold back tears. "Kritika lost her sight when she was nine years old. But even at that age, she was interested in science and wanted to do physiotherapy. We are very proud of her,’’ said her mother.
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