THE IMBROGLIO OF LEGAL CAPACITY IN INDIAN DISABILITY LAW
its provisions are in conflict with Section 13 and several other provisions of RPDA recognising
the legal capacity of persons with psycho-social disabilities.
Conclusion
The aforesaid analysis has been undertaken to demonstrate that the construction of legal
capacity in MHCA, despite claims to the contrary, is not in harmony with the CRPD and needs
to be either repealed or struck down. The MHCA was enacted despite the disability community
asking otherwise. The RPDA, in comparison, is a more forward-looking legislation; however,
the incorporation of Section 14 in RPDA shows that the stranglehold of the old paradigm also
haunted the RPDA legislative process.
The Indian judiciary has embraced the spirit of the CRPD in how it is developing the
jurisprudence of disability rights in the country.33 There are some forward looking
interpretations, which give hope that the general comments and concluding observations of
the Treaty Body may be creatively used by the Indian courts to resolve the imbroglio of legal
capacity.
33
See the cases cited in supra note 16.
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