When disabled Hindu worshippers in the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu were blocked from entering temples with their wheelchairs and crutches, Meenakshi Bal Subramanian knew she had the law on her side.
The disabled rights activist, who herself has polio, sued the temple authorities in the state's high court, and won.
Today, she said, temples must provide wheelchairs to disabled visitors if they ban them from bringing in their own medical equipment on the basis the devices are ritually impure.
"I do feel it's our right, a religious right, a fundamental right," Balasubramanian said. "We need to be allowed to worship the way we want to."
Tired of waiting for the government to safeguard their rights to pray, work, learn and travel, India's 22 million disabled people are increasingly turning to the courts.
So far, the strategy has yielded some surprising victories.
In New Delhi, a disability activist forced state-owned Indian Airlines to provide wheelchair lifts at airports in a case that went to the Supreme Court.
And legal action in New Delhi and Mumbai has removed barriers for wheelchair users and the blind at election polling booths across the country.
The disabled rights activist, who herself has polio, sued the temple authorities in the state's high court, and won.
Today, she said, temples must provide wheelchairs to disabled visitors if they ban them from bringing in their own medical equipment on the basis the devices are ritually impure.
"I do feel it's our right, a religious right, a fundamental right," Balasubramanian said. "We need to be allowed to worship the way we want to."
Tired of waiting for the government to safeguard their rights to pray, work, learn and travel, India's 22 million disabled people are increasingly turning to the courts.
So far, the strategy has yielded some surprising victories.
In New Delhi, a disability activist forced state-owned Indian Airlines to provide wheelchair lifts at airports in a case that went to the Supreme Court.
And legal action in New Delhi and Mumbai has removed barriers for wheelchair users and the blind at election polling booths across the country.