New Delhi: The Supreme Court of India has issued notice on a petition filed by Haemophilia Federation (India) seeking inclusion of haemophilia within the scope of disabilities recognized under the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016 (“RPwD Act”).
The petition, registered as Writ Petition (Civil) Diary No. 47246/2025, was heard by a Bench comprising Justice Aravind Kumar and Justice N.V. Anjaria on November 10, 2025.
The Bench was hearing the plea filed by Haemophilia Federation (India) and another petitioner through Senior Advocate Ms. Madhavi Divan, assisted by Advocate-on-Record Mr. Vikas Mehta along with Mr. Apoorv Khator, Mr. Gokul Holani, Ms. Arpita Pande, Mr. Ravi Holani, Mr. Shriram Kashyap, Ms. Shambhavi, Ms. Isha Shrivastava, Ms. Nidhi, and Mr. Pramarth Gupta, Advocates.
The petitioners have challenged the exclusion of persons with haemophilia from the list of recognized disabilities under the RPwD Act, contending that the omission violates the guarantee of equality and non-discrimination under Articles 14 and 21 of the Constitution. It was submitted that haemophilia, being a lifelong blood disorder causing prolonged bleeding and functional impairments, ought to be classified as a disability to ensure affected persons receive equal access to employment, education, and healthcare.
During the brief hearing, the Court condoned the delay in refiling, heard the submissions, and issued notice to the Union of India, directing that the matter be tagged with W.P.(C) No. 619/2025, which raises a similar issue concerning the disability rights of haemophilia patients.
This development follows earlier judicial interventions on the matter. In September 2025, a Bench led by Justice B.R. Gavai had asked the Centre to clarify “why persons with haemophilia are excluded from the PwD quota in UPSC examinations,” observing that exclusion of a chronic, debilitating condition from the list of disabilities warranted judicial scrutiny.
Similarly, the Rajasthan High Court in Rajasthan State Haemophilia Welfare Society v. Union of India (2022 SCC OnLine Raj 1973) upheld the constitutionality of Section 34 of the RPwD Act while urging the State and Centre to adopt an inclusive interpretation of the statute to cover disorders like haemophilia within its beneficial ambit.
Case Title: Haemophilia Federation (India) & Anr. v. Union of India & Anr.
Case No.: Writ Petition (Civil)
Diary No. 47246/2025
Coram: Justice Aravind Kumar and Justice N.V. Anjaria
Date of Order: November 10, 2025
For Petitioners: Ms. Madhavi Divan, Senior Advocate; Mr. Vikas Mehta, AOR, assisted by Mr. Apoorv Khator, Mr. Gokul Holani, Ms. Arpita Pande, Ms. Isha Shrivastava, and Ms. Shambhavi, Advocates
