ARUNODAY TIMES : Dehradun, July 27, 2026: In a significant step towards the social, economic and legal empowerment of persons with disabilities, the Dehradun district administration has approved legal and limited guardianship in 12 cases.
Acting on the directions of the District Magistrate, a meeting of the District-Level Committee and Local Level Committee was chaired by Chief Development Officer Abhinav Shah at the Vikas Bhawan auditorium. The committees reviewed applications received under the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016 and the National Trust Act, 1999, and approved legal guardianship and limited guardianship in eligible cases.
The meeting examined online applications concerning persons with autism, cerebral palsy, intellectual disabilities and multiple disabilities. The Local Level Committee approved the appointment of legal guardians in eight cases, while the District-Level Committee, constituted under the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Rules, 2019, approved limited guardianship in four cases.
With legal or limited guardianship in place, beneficiaries who are unable to make legally binding decisions or independently manage their financial and administrative affairs will now be able to carry out essential tasks such as operating bank accounts, completing banking formalities and fulfilling other statutory requirements through their appointed guardians.
Officials also highlighted that persons with disabilities whose parents were government employees and who have faced legal hurdles in obtaining family pension after their parents’ demise will now be able to apply for pension through their legal or limited guardians. The move is expected to strengthen their financial security and simplify the completion of necessary legal procedures.
Chairing the meeting, Chief Development Officer Abhinav Shah directed officials to undertake extensive awareness campaigns about the provisions relating to legal and limited guardianship so that eligible persons with disabilities and their families can benefit from the scheme.
The meeting was attended by Chief Medical Officer Dr M.K. Sharma, District Social Welfare Officer Deepankar Ghildiyal, the District Government Advocate, representatives of non-governmental organisations working in the disability sector, and other committee members.
