UPDATE
August 6, 2025
The false case against Paralympian Vibhas Sen was dismissed by the Special Executive Magistrate court on August 6, 2025. The judge also announced that the bank manager who misbehaved and instigated assault against Sen will be transferred.
Addressed to:
1. Chairperson, National Commission for Persons with Disabilities
2. Governor, Reserve Bank of India
3. Dr. Virendra Kumar, Union Minister of Social Justice and Empowerment, Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities
Demands:
Compulsory training for all public sector officials conducted periodically by third-party certified trainers.
Penal action against individuals and institutions failing to comply with RBI guidelines and Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016 provisions on equal access and dignified service.
Clear SOPs for handling customers with disabilities, in line with the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (RPWD) Act, 2016, and relevant RBI circulars.
Conduct independent audits focusing on inclusion, accessibility, and sensitivity towards the needs and experiences of differently-abled citizens in public sector service enterprises.
To conduct a thorough investigation into the incident and take reasonable action in accordance with the rule of law against those found guilty.
Public acknowledgment of lapses by institutions and transparent steps to prevent recurrence.
The Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016, mandates protection from abuse and equal access to government services and schemes. Yet, the lack of sensitisation training and accountability mechanisms has reduced the effectiveness of these provisions.
This institutional neglect is faced by millions of Indians with disabilities everyday! Services are inaccessible, officials are uninformed, and when asserting legal rights, they face frequent harassment.
In May, 2025, Vibhas Sen, a paralympian with 75% disability, was assaulted and intimidated in a public sector bank while inquiring about a government scheme, Divyangjan Swavalamban Yojana, that offered a loan meant for persons with disabilities. Instead of assisting him with his queries, the staff at the Union Bank of India were hostile and denied the existence of any such scheme. The argument escalated further.
When Sen tried to record the conversation to ensure his safety, the bank manager, staff, and security guard physically assaulted him, forcibly restrained him, and attempted to seize his phone to delete the video. This prompted Sen to file a complaint at the police station. However, at the police station, he faced resistance from police officials who were reluctant to file an FIR initially and claimed to have filed it only after he continued persisting.
Later that evening, the bank manager and staff turned up at his private residence. Sen claims he had never shared his address with the bank officials.They pressured him to withdraw his complaint and delete the evidence.
When he refused to budge, the bank’s branch manager reported Sen for quarreling with him due to personal enmity and jealousy. As a result of this, he received a showcause notice from the Special Executive Magistrate’s office of Dwarka, New Delhi.
The incident is reflective of a larger systemic issue – it brings to light the failure of public institutions like banks, the police among others, to be sensitive towards persons with disabilities, a clear violation of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016.
We are urging authorities to issue directives mandating certified disability rights training and compliance audits for public institutions. This will ensure infrastructure that is inclusive and accessible to all!
The dignity and legal rights of millions of persons with disabilities must be protected and upheld. The very systems that are meant to protect and serve us cannot become flagbearers of apathy!
Sources:
Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (DEPwD) | Home | India
UPDATE
August 6, 2025
The false case against Paralympian Vibhas Sen was dismissed by the Special Executive Magistrate court on August 6, 2025. The judge also announced that the bank manager who misbehaved and instigated assault against Sen will be transferred.
Addressed to:
1. Chairperson, National Commission for Persons with Disabilities
2. Governor, Reserve Bank of India
3. Dr. Virendra Kumar, Union Minister of Social Justice and Empowerment, Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities
Demands:
Compulsory training for all public sector officials conducted periodically by third-party certified trainers.
Penal action against individuals and institutions failing to comply with RBI guidelines and Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016 provisions on equal access and dignified service.
Clear SOPs for handling customers with disabilities, in line with the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (RPWD) Act, 2016, and relevant RBI circulars.
Conduct independent audits focusing on inclusion, accessibility, and sensitivity towards the needs and experiences of differently-abled citizens in public sector service enterprises.
To conduct a thorough investigation into the incident and take reasonable action in accordance with the rule of law against those found guilty.
Public acknowledgment of lapses by institutions and transparent steps to prevent recurrence.
The Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016, mandates protection from abuse and equal access to government services and schemes. Yet, the lack of sensitisation training and accountability mechanisms has reduced the effectiveness of these provisions.
This institutional neglect is faced by millions of Indians with disabilities everyday! Services are inaccessible, officials are uninformed, and when asserting legal rights, they face frequent harassment.
In May, 2025, Vibhas Sen, a paralympian with 75% disability, was assaulted and intimidated in a public sector bank while inquiring about a government scheme, Divyangjan Swavalamban Yojana, that offered a loan meant for persons with disabilities. Instead of assisting him with his queries, the staff at the Union Bank of India were hostile and denied the existence of any such scheme. The argument escalated further.
When Sen tried to record the conversation to ensure his safety, the bank manager, staff, and security guard physically assaulted him, forcibly restrained him, and attempted to seize his phone to delete the video. This prompted Sen to file a complaint at the police station. However, at the police station, he faced resistance from police officials who were reluctant to file an FIR initially and claimed to have filed it only after he continued persisting.
Later that evening, the bank manager and staff turned up at his private residence. Sen claims he had never shared his address with the bank officials.They pressured him to withdraw his complaint and delete the evidence.
When he refused to budge, the bank’s branch manager reported Sen for quarreling with him due to personal enmity and jealousy. As a result of this, he received a showcause notice from the Special Executive Magistrate’s office of Dwarka, New Delhi.
The incident is reflective of a larger systemic issue – it brings to light the failure of public institutions like banks, the police among others, to be sensitive towards persons with disabilities, a clear violation of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016.
We are urging authorities to issue directives mandating certified disability rights training and compliance audits for public institutions. This will ensure infrastructure that is inclusive and accessible to all!
The dignity and legal rights of millions of persons with disabilities must be protected and upheld. The very systems that are meant to protect and serve us cannot become flagbearers of apathy!
Sources:
Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (DEPwD) | Home | India