Archive · 1 Dec 2025
Supreme Court Seeks Government Response on Haemophilia Inclusion in Disability Rights Act
The Supreme Court of India has asked the government to respond to a request to include haemophilia, a rare bleeding disorder, in a law that helps people with disabilities.
The law, called the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016, already lists haemophilia but people with this condition are still not getting benefits like special seats in schools and jobs.
The court said that the law is about including everyone, not leaving anyone out.
The petitioners argue that haemophilia causes serious problems like difficulty moving, needing constant medical care, and frequent hospital visits.
Despite this, people with haemophilia are not getting the help they need.
The court's notice is a step towards making sure everyone with a disability gets the support they deserve.
The Supreme Court issued a notice to the central government on a petition seeking the explicit inclusion of haemophilia under the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016 (RPwD Act).
The petitioners argue that haemophilia results in serious mobility limitations, continuous medical dependency, and recurrent hospitalisations, affecting everyday functioning.
Individuals with haemophilia are reportedly denied reservation benefits, educational support, and welfare entitlements available to other recognised disabilities.
The RPwD Act lists 21 specified disabilities, including haemophilia, but many individuals with rare blood disorders continue to face exclusion.
The court emphasised that the rights of persons with long-term health conditions must be grounded in social justice and equality.
- Who
- Supreme Court of India, Central Government, Petitioners seeking inclusion of haemophilia in RPwD Act
- What
- Supreme Court issued a notice to the central government on a petition for the explicit inclusion of haemophilia under the RPwD Act
- When
- Recently (exact date not specified)
- Where
- India
- Why
- To address the exclusion of individuals with haemophilia from reservation benefits, educational support, and welfare entitlements despite being listed under the RPwD Act
- Act
- Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016 (RPwD Act)
- Disorder
- Haemophilia
- Petitioners' Argument
- Haemophilia results in serious mobility limitations, continuous medical dependency, and recurrent hospitalisations
- Current Exclusions
- Denial of reservation benefits, educational support, and welfare entitlements
- Bench's Emphasis
- Rights of persons with long-term health conditions must be grounded in social justice and equality
- Disabilities Listed in RPwD Act
- 21 specified disabilities including haemophilia, thalassaemia, and sickle cell disease
- Reservation Eligibility
- Persons with benchmark disabilities (40% or more of a specified disability)
- Reservation Categories
- Blindness and low vision, Deaf and hard of hearing, Locomotor disability, autism, intellectual disability, specific learning disability, and mental illness, multiple disabilities