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GOVERNMENT OF KARNATAKA
NO: LD 420 LET 2025 Karnataka Government Secretariat,
Vikasa Soudha,
Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Veedhi,
Bangalore, dated:21/11/2025.
NOTIFICATION
The draft of the Karnataka Rights of Persons with Disabilities in
Employment and Education Bill, 2025 which the Government of Karnataka
proposes to make for providing measures to safeguard and advance the rights
of persons with disabilities in the fields of employment and education, in
consonance with the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016 and the
United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities;
And whereas the State of Karnataka is committed to fostering an inclusive
and accessible society that upholds dignity, autonomy, and equal opportunity
for all persons with disabilities; it is published for the information of all the
persons likely to be affected thereby and notice is hereby given that the said
draft will be taken into consideration after the expiry of thirty days from the
date of its publication in the Official Gazette.
Any objection or suggestion which may be received by the State Government
from any person with respect to the said draft before the expiry of the period
specified above will be considered by the State Government. Objections and
suggestions may be addressed to the Principal Secretary to Government, Labour
Department, Vikasa Soudha, Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Veedhi, Bengaluru.
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Part – IVA
24
, 2025 (
, 03,
, ೧೯೪7)
BENGALURU, MONDAY 24, NOVEMBER, 2025 (MARGASHIRA , 03, SHAKAVARSHA, 1947)
. 750
No. 750
2
Chapter I
Preliminary
1. Short title, extent and commencement.
(1) This Bill may be called the Karnataka Rights of Persons with Disabilities
in Employment and Education Bill, 2025.
(2) It extends to the whole of the State of Karnataka.
(3) It shall come into force on such date as the State Government may, by
notification in the Official Gazette, appoint, and subject to the phased
commencement timetable notified under section 34.
2. Definitions.
In this Bill, unless the context otherwise requires—
a. “age of onset” means the age at which a person first acquires a
disability.
b. “certificate of disability” means a certificate issued by a
Competent Medical Authority certifying the nature and extent of
disability in the form prescribed by the State Regulatory Authority.
c. “competent authority” means any authority appointed under this
Act.
d. “competent medical authority” means a medical board or
designated medical officer constituted under rules by the State
Government and shall include at least one specialist in the relevant
field and one rehabilitative professional.
e. “disability” shall have the same meaning as assigned in clause (s)
of section 2 of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016.
f. “discrimination” shall have the same meaning as assigned in
clause (h) of section 2 of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act,
2016.
g. “educational institution” includes any school, college, university,
or institution imparting education or skill development at any level;
institutions receiving aid from the State Government or local
authorities; private unaided institutions, open universities, and
distance-learning institutions operating in Karnataka.
h. “reasonable accommodation” means necessary and appropriate
modification and adjustments, not imposing a disproportionate or
undue burden, in procedures, facilities, services, curricula, work
environment or equipment that enable a person with disability to
enjoy or exercise an equal right in employment or education, and
includes but is not limited to assistive devices; physical access
modifications; flexible working hours; modified assessment
methods; provision of a scribe; sign language interpretation; and
digital accessibility measures.
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i. “private establishment” means any establishment, industry,
factory, shop, or commercial establishment employing one or more
persons, and includes establishments covered under the Karnataka
Shops and Commercial Establishments Act, 1961, but excludes
independent self-employed persons; applicability to franchised
units, contractors or outsourced personnel shall be as prescribed
by rules.
j. “person with benchmark disability” shall have the same meaning
assigned to it in clause (r) of section 2 of the Rights of Persons with
Disabilities Act, 2016.
k. “reservation” means the percentage of posts or seats set apart
exclusively for persons with disabilities under this Act.
l. “sanctioned post” means a post duly sanctioned in the cadre
strength or approved strength of an employer or institution.
m. “vacancy” means a post that is unfilled and for which recruitment
has been authorized.
n. All other terms used herein but not defined shall have the meanings
as assigned under the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016.
Certificate validity and review.
A certificate of disability shall indicate the category and percentage of
disability and shall be valid for the period specified in rules; where the
certificate is temporary or requires reassessment, the Competent Medical
Authority shall specify the review period and process.
Chapter II
Rights in Employment
3.
Non-discrimination and reasonable accommodation.
(1) No employer shall discriminate against a person with disability in
recruitment, selection, terms of employment, promotion, training,
transfer, retrenchment or any other conditions of service.
(2) Employers shall provide reasonable accommodation in accordance with
this Act and rules.
(3) Where a person with disability requests reasonable accommodation, the
employer shall acknowledge the request in writing within seven days and
complete an assessment and provide a decision within thirty days.
(4) If reasonable accommodation is feasible and not an undue hardship, the
employer shall implement it within the period specified in the decision.
(5) If the employer refuses on the ground of undue hardship, the employer
shall state reasons in writing and offer alternatives; such refusal may be
reviewed by the State Regulatory Authority on application by the aggrieved
person.
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(6) Any disclosure of information about a person’s disability by an employer
shall be only with the informed consent of the person except where
necessary for workplace safety or statutory compliance.
(7) No promotion shall be denied on the ground of disability.
(8) No employee who acquires a disability during service shall be reduced in
rank or discharged; such employee shall be shifted to another suitable
post with the same pay scale, or placed on a supernumerary post until a
suitable post becomes available or until superannuation, subject to the
provisions and safeguards in rules including retraining and redeployment
support.
4. Reservation
in
private
sector
employment:-
(1)
Every
private
establishment employing twenty or more persons shall reserve five per cent
of all sanctioned posts for persons with disabilities.
(2) Reservation shall apply to direct recruitment and to regularized posts
created by conversion of long-term contractual positions as prescribed
by rules.
(3) Distribution: Employers shall ensure reasonable distribution of
reserved posts among categories of disability in accordance with a
formula notified by the State Regulatory Authority to avoid
concentration in a single category.
(4) Phasing and compliance: Reservation shall be implemented in phases.
Employers shall submit an annual compliance plan to the State
Regulatory Authority as prescribed. The State Government shall notify
phased timelines under section 34.
(5) Carry forward: If eligible candidates are not available in a recruitment
cycle, such vacancies shall be carried forward and retained in the
employer’s open roster for three consecutive recruitment cycles. After
three cycles, the employer may fill the vacancy subject to prior notice
to the State Regulatory Authority and justification of efforts to fill the
reserved post.
(6) Exemption: A post may be exempted from reservation only where the
essential functions cannot be performed even after reasonable
accommodation; such exemption shall be recorded in writing and is
subject to review by the State Regulatory Authority.
(7) Transparency: Employers shall publish annually the number of
sanctioned posts, the number of persons with disabilities employed,
reserved vacancies carried forward, and measures taken to provide
reasonable accommodation, in the prescribed form.
Chapter III
Rights in Education
5. Prohibition
of
discrimination:-
No
educational
institution
shall
discriminate against students with disabilities in admission, evaluation,
progression, scholarships, awards, or any academic or co-curricular
activity.
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6. Reservation in educational institutions:- (1) Every educational institution
shall reserve ten per cent of total seats for persons with disabilities in each
course or programme unless exempted under law.
(2) Institutions shall ensure reasonable accommodation in admission
procedures, evaluation, course delivery and examinations; examples
include alternative question papers, extended time, scribes, assistive
technology and accessible course materials.
(3) Unfilled reserved seats shall be carried forward for up to three academic
years and reported annually to the State Regulatory Authority.
(4) Age and cut-off relaxations: Persons with disabilities shall receive five
years of age relaxation for admission and a five per cent relaxation in
cut-off marks for general category admissions where applicable.
Institutions shall publish objective criteria and process for availing these
relaxations.
(5) Institutions claiming inability to reserve seats for reasons of institutional
autonomy, minority rights or essential requirement of a course must file
a written justification with the State Regulatory Authority which may
grant conditional exemption after hearing stakeholders.
(6) Accessibility and Inclusion Plans: Institutions shall develop and submit
an Accessibility and Inclusion Plan within six months of commencement
of this Act and shall complete priority accessibility measures within two
years and full accessibility within five years in accordance with
standards notified by the State Government.
7. Educational loans and financial assistance:- (1) Persons with disabilities
shall have the right to access education loans from public and private
financial institutions at concessional interest rates as prescribed by rules
and subject to measures agreed with financial institutions.
(2) Institutions must simplify documentation and designate dedicated
facilitation officers for students with disabilities.
(3) The State shall monitor compliance and impose penalties for non-
adherence as prescribed.
8. Accessibility in educational institutions:- All educational institutions
shall—
a.
ensure physical and digital accessibility of buildings, labs, libraries and
online platforms in accordance with prescribed standards;
b.
provide assistive devices, scribes, and reasonable accommodations as
required; and
c.
ensure teacher training in inclusive pedagogy as specified by rules.
Chapter IV
Implementation, Regulatory and Enforcement Framework
9. State Advisory Committee:- (1) The State Government shall constitute a
State Advisory Committee with representatives from relevant departments,
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industry associations, educational bodies, academia, Disabled Persons
Organizations and civil society.
(2) The Committee shall meet at least quarterly and advise the Government
on implementation, review of rules and prioritization of resources.
10. State Regulatory Authority — constitution, composition and
functions:- (1) The State Government shall, by notification, establish a
State Regulatory Authority.
(2) Composition: The Authority shall consist of a Chairperson and not fewer
than six and not more than ten members appointed by the State
Government, including representatives of the Departments of Social
Welfare and Education; a legal expert; a medical or rehabilitation expert;
two representatives of Disabled Persons Organizations; and a member
representing employer/industry associations. Members shall serve for
three years and be eligible for one reappointment only.
(3) Functions: The Authority shall monitor and audit compliance, maintain
disaggregated employment and education inclusion data, publish
annual reports, issue compliance directions, publish model forms and
guidance notes, and levy penalties as prescribed. The Authority shall
refer matters of alleged contravention to the State Enforcement
Authority.
(4) Inspections and audits: The Authority or its authorized officers may
conduct inspections and audits in accordance with rules; reasonable
notice shall be given except where suspicion of serious non-compliance
justifies a surprise inspection authorized by the Chairperson.
(5) Transparency: The Authority shall publish anonymized decisions, annual
reports and performance indicators on its website and in prescribed
formats.
11. District Regulatory Officer:- The Authority may appoint District
Regulatory Officers to assist with monitoring, facilitation, inspections and
compilation of district-level data.
12. State Enforcement Authority-constitution and functions:- (1) The State
Government shall establish a State Enforcement Authority (Enforcement
Authority) by notification to adjudicate complaints and enforce compliance
under this Act.
(2) Composition: The Enforcement Authority shall have a presiding officer
with judicial or quasi-judicial experience and not fewer than two other
members, including one expert in disability rights, appointed for a term
of three years.
(3) Powers: The Enforcement Authority shall receive complaints, conduct
hearings, issue interim relief including temporary reinstatement or
compliance directions, impose penalties, and award compensation as per
guidelines notified by the State Government. It shall have powers of a
7
civil court under the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 for summoning
witnesses, compelling production of documents and enforcing orders.
(4) Procedure and timelines: The Enforcement Authority shall admit or reject
complaints within fifteen days; where prima facie relief is warranted it
shall issue interim orders within fifteen days; and shall endeavour to
dispose of matters ordinarily within ninety days of admission, subject to
reasoned extension.
13. Appeal and review:- (1) Appeals from orders of the Enforcement Authority
shall lie to an Appellate Authority constituted under this Act within thirty
days of the order.
(2) The Appellate Authority shall dispose of appeals ordinarily within sixty
days.
(3) Judicial review before the High Court shall be available in accordance
with law.
Chapter V
Grievance Redressal, Reporting and Data Safeguards
14. Grievance Redressal Officer:- Every private establishment and private
educational institution shall appoint a Grievance Redressal Officer and
notify the State Regulatory Authority; the officer shall have prescribed
minimum qualifications and receive periodic training in handling
disability-related complaints.
15. Online complaints and access channels:- Aggrieved persons may file
complaints electronically before the Enforcement Authority and the
Authority shall provide multiple accessible channels (online, phone, in-
person helpdesks and
accessible
formats).
Complaints shall
be
acknowledged within seven days.
16. Timelines for grievance disposal:- The internal grievance mechanism
shall acknowledge within seven days, complete preliminary inquiry within
thirty days and resolve matters within ninety days unless exceptional
circumstances justify an extension with reasons recorded.
17. Annual returns and transparency:- All establishments and institutions
shall submit yearly compliance reports in the prescribed format to the State
Regulatory Authority. The Authority shall publish anonymized aggregated
data and an annual performance report.
18. Data collection, use and protection:- The Authority shall maintain
disaggregated data by disability type, gender, district and sector for
monitoring and planning. Data access shall be limited, retained only as
necessary, anonymized for public reporting, and handled in accordance
with applicable data protection laws and rules made under this Act.
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Chapter VI
Penalties, Compensation and Incentives
19. Penalties for contravention:- (1) For the first contravention, the
Enforcement Authority may impose a fine up to ₹10,000 and direct
remedial action.
(2) For subsequent contraventions, the Enforcement Authority may impose a
fine proportionate to the size of the establishment and not less than
₹50,000 and not exceeding ₹5,00,000, and may order corrective
measures, mandatory training and public disclosure of non-compliance.
(3) Alternative corrective orders such as mandatory compliance plans,
suspension of benefits and certification revocation may be imposed in
addition to fines.
20. Compensation and relief.- The Enforcement Authority may award
compensation to affected persons for loss of wages, reinstatement, cost of
rehabilitation, and such other relief as per guidelines; calculation
principles shall be notified.
21. Offences by establishments or institutions.- Persons in charge shall be
deemed guilty of contravention unless they prove due diligence and
compliance steps consistent with rules and guidance.
22. Punishment for fraudulent claims.- A person making a fraudulent claim
of disability shall be subject to penalties and, where appropriate,
prosecution; punishment may include fine up to ₹1,00,000 and
imprisonment up to two years, subject to safeguards ensuring that
legitimate claimants are not deterred.
23. Failure to furnish information.- Failure or refusal to furnish information
to the Authority shall attract a fine up to ₹25,000 and an additional ₹1,000
per day for continued refusal after notice.
24. Alternative punishments and precedence.- Where an act constitutes an
offence under this Act and any other law, the higher penalty shall apply;
remedies under this Act are without prejudice to other legal remedies.
25. Incentives and recognition.- The State Government may notify incentives
for compliant employers and institutions including tax incentives, public
procurement preference, certification as “Inclusive Employer/Institution”
and recognition awards.
Chapter VII
Procedural Safeguards, Anti-Retaliation and Review
26. Anti-retaliation and interim relief:- No person shall be victimized for
making a complaint under this Act. The Enforcement Authority may grant
interim relief including temporary reinstatement, injunctions and interim
compliance directions.
9
Review and sunset:- The State Government shall cause a statutory review
of the operation of this Act three years after commencement and thereafter
at intervals prescribed by rules; significant rule changes shall follow public
consultation with Disabled Persons Organizations and stakeholders.
Chapter VIII
Rule making, Forms and Transitional Provisions (MISCELLANEOUS)
28. Power to make rules:- The State Government may make rules to give effect
to this Act and shall do so after consultation with the State Regulatory
Authority and Disabled Persons Organizations. Draft rules shall be
published for public comment for not less than thirty days before
notification.
29. Mandatory consultation:- Rules under this Act shall be framed in
consultation with Disabled Persons Organizations, employer associations,
higher education councils and banks where financial measures apply.
30. Model forms:- The Authority shall publish model forms and templates by
notification for certificates of disability, grievance forms, annual returns,
accessibility
compliance
certificates
and
other
administrative
requirements.
31. Transitional schedule and phased commencement:- (1)The State
Government shall notify a phased commencement timetable within ninety
days of enactment which shall include—
a. within 180 days: constitution of the State Regulatory Authority and State
Enforcement Authority, notification of Competent Medical Authorities,
model forms, and guidance on reasonable accommodation;
b. within 12 months: employers of 250 or more employees and all higher
educational institutions to submit Accessibility and Inclusion Plans and
begin compliance reporting;
c. within 24 months: employers of 50 or more employees and all
educational institutions to implement priority accessibility measures;
d. within 36 months: full implementation of reservation obligations across
all establishments and institutions subject to exemptions expressly
provided in this Act.
(2) The State Government may extend or vary timelines for specific sectors
where demonstrable hardship exists provided an enforceable compliance
plan is submitted and periodically reviewed by the Authority.
32. Protection of action taken in good faith:- No suit or legal proceeding
shall lie against any authority or officer for anything done in good faith
under this Act.
33. Furnishing information:- No employer or management shall deny
information requested by the State Regulatory Authority; refusal to furnish
shall be subject to penal provisions under section 23.
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34. Power to remove difficulties:- The State Government may issue orders to
remove difficulties in giving effect to this Act; such orders shall be limited
in time and reported to the Legislature.
By order and in the name of
Governor of Karnataka,
Suma .S
Under Secretary to Government,
Labour Department.
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Date: 2025.11.24 17:57:51 +05'30'