‘Can diabetic students carry snacks, insulin at exam centres?’ Madurai Court to hear PIL on April 4

The bench was hearing a PIL seeking to direct the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) and the state education department officials to issue a circular enabling the Type I diabetic students to take tablets, chocolates, candy, fruits and insulin pump.

The Madras High Court Thursday sought to know from the Centre and the Tamil government whether diabetic students can be allowed to carry required medicines like insulin while appearing for public exams.

Justices N Kirubakaran and S S Sundar of the Madurai Bench also asked if the governments had a proposal to include Type I Diabetes as a disability under the Persons with Disabilities (Equal Opportunities, Protection of Rights and Full Participation) Act.

The bench was hearing a PIL seeking to direct the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) and the state education department officials to issue a circular enabling the Type I diabetic students to take tablets, chocolates, candy, fruits and insulin pump.

Besides, the petition also wanted the diabetic students to be permitted to attend natural calls as and when required while writing examinations.

Dr E subbiah, the head of the department of diabetology, and Dr S Rajakumar, chief civil surgeon in ESI hospital, who appeared in the court on the direction of the judges, agreed that the PIL prayer was important.

They said it was most important for the Type I diabetes students to carry insulin and also snacks in the examination hall.

The doctors said a sizeable population in the country was affected with Type I diabetes.

The judges posted the case for hearing on April 4 after asking the government to reply to a series of questions, including why not it come with a draft regulation to permit such students to carry tablets, sandwich, among others.

They also asked whether required number of diabetologists were available, if they were appointed in taluk level hospitals, or any camp had been conducted to identify Type I diabetes.