The magisterial inquiry that was ordered to probe the alleged denial of entry to a differently-abled rights activist by an eatery in a South Delhi mall has found the restaurant guilty of inappropriate conduct and is likely to recommend action against it.
The factual report into the incident has purportedly found the eatery of being “insensitive” towards the victim, Nipun Malhotra, who had accused the eatery of denying him entry in to the restaurant. The report has recommended the Delhi government to send a stern warning to the restaurant. The probing agency, which has accessed the CCTV footage of the incident, has also asked for formulation of guidelines about sensitive behaviour towards differently-abled persons.
Mr Malhotra, who was born with arthrogryposis — a rare congenital disorder which leads to contraction of the joints in arms and legs — was turned away by Keya, an eatery at South Delhi’s DLF Promenade Mall on March 6. He alleged that the security at the restaurant had stopped him when he arrived there with his brother to join eight other friends for dinner.
As per the report, the footage of CCTV have showed that Mr Malhotra was denied entry and some force was also used to stop him. The sub-divisional magistrate has recommended framing of guidelines, according to which every person, including differently-abled person, should get right to admission and there should be no violation of human rights.
Mr Malhotra, the co-founder of the Nipman Foundation, was allegedly told by the security and the manager of the restaurant that as a policy they do not allow disabled people inside. On being asked why he was being refused entry, the security told Mr Malhotra that as a policy, people on wheelchair were not allowed. He also claimed that the security at the eatery “started pulling” his wheelchair.
The restaurant had claimed that he had been barred since stag entries were not allowed on the occasion of Holi, and stated that it was a case of “misunderstanding.”
