The Supreme Court of India has agreed to hear a plea seeking the implementation of disability-sensitive guidelines for welfare insurance schemes. The Centre and Life Insurance Corporation of India have been asked to respond within four weeks.
The plea aims to ensure that welfare insurance schemes for persons with disabilities conform to the guarantees under Articles 14 and 21 of the Constitution.
The 'Jeevan Aadhar' policy, offered by the LIC, may be offered to individuals with handicapped dependants. The petition seeks a direction to decide claims under such schemes on a case-by-case basis through reasoned, humane, and non-mechanical decision-making processes.
The LIC has been asked to frame a policy where annuity for persons with disabilities under 'Jeevan Aadhar' shall commence automatically upon the policyholder attaining the age of 60 years.
