Nipun Malhotra, a disability rights activist who was denied entry into Delhi's Keya restaurant. (File photograph)
The Delhi restaurant that barred the entry of differently abled person had been "insentive" towards the young man, a magisterial inquiry held into the matter has concluded, sources told NDTV.
The report recommends that the Delhi government give a stern warning to the restaurant and frame guidelines about sensitive behavior towards differently abled persons, they added.
Nipun Malhotra, who was born with arthrogryposis -- a rare congenital disorder which leads to contraction of the joints in arms and legs -- was turned away by Keya, an eatery at south Delhi's DLF Promenade Mall on the evening of March 6.
The restaurant had claimed that he had been barred since stag entries were not allowed on the occasion of Holi.
Going by the CCTV footage, the inquiry ordered by the Delhi government concluded that the restaurant was not sticking to that rule. Also, there was no guideline on barring entry to stags.
According to the findings of the inquiry, entry to Mr Malhotra was denied following a heated argument, sources told NDTV. It was also possible that the staff used force to stop him from going in.
Mr Malhotra had told NDTV that the securitymen at the restaurant had "started pulling" his wheelchair when he tried to get in. Asked why they were barring him from entering, they had told him that the restaurant does not "allow people on wheelchair as a policy".
The manager, he said, later "tried to flip the argument by saying they "do not allow stag entries". "I had to point it out to him that if you don't allow stag entries, then how do I have eight friends inside, of whom five were boys and three girls?" he had told NDTV.
Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia had stepped in, directing the Sub Divisional Magistrate, Vasant Vihar, to conduct an inquiry into the matter. The Delhi government has made it clear that the national capital should lead by example on how people from all segments of the society have a right to live their lives honourably.
The report recommends that the Delhi government consider framing guidelines to encourage staff at eateries, malls etc to follow when dealing with differently abled people.