New Delhi: The Supreme Court of India sought formal responses from the Union Government and the Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC) regarding a petition aimed at making welfare insurance schemes more accessible and sensitive to persons with disabilities (PwDs). A bench comprising Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta agreed to examine the plea, which argues that current insurance frameworks often fail to uphold the constitutional guarantees of equality and personal liberty under Articles 14 and 21.
The petition specifically highlights the ‘Jeevan Aadhar’ policy, a plan designed to provide lifelong cover for individuals with handicapped dependants. Under current regulations, this policy is linked to Section 80DDA of the Income Tax Act, 1961. However, the plea contends that for beneficiaries with intellectual, mental, or congenital disabilities—who may struggle to independently navigate complex legal contracts—claims should be handled through a “reasoned and humane” process rather than mechanical decision-making. The court has granted the Centre and LIC four weeks to file their replies.
A key demand in the petition is for the LIC to automate annuity payments for disabled beneficiaries. It suggests that for policies like ‘Jeevan Aadhar’, the annuity should commence automatically once the policyholder reaches the age of 60, or another specified age, to ensure continuous financial support for the dependant. The petitioners are calling for stricter policy oversight by the Centre to ensure that these welfare schemes are not just available on paper but are implemented in a way that respects the dignity and specific needs of the disabled community.
