Written by Jasbir MalhiMohali | October 5, 2025 01:04 AM IST 2 min readAssociation president Dharam Singh Mundi has written to Deputy Commissioner Komal Mittal, demanding “immediate and strict action” against those responsibleA serious case of alleged neglect towards differently abled persons at Civil Hospital, Mohali, has triggered protests from the Physically Handicapped Association, District Mohali. Association president Dharam Singh Mundi has written to Deputy Commissioner Komal Mittal, demanding “immediate and strict action” against those responsible.A copy of the complaint has also been sent to the Civil Surgeon, Mohali. The letter highlights that the hospital earlier maintained a dedicated counter for physically challenged persons, created to ensure that they could get their registration slips and other services without any difficulty. However, for the past few months, the counter has been “closed without any reason,” and even the signboard identifying it has been removed.Mundi said, “Now, when differently abled persons go to make their registration slips, they are directed to counter no. 6 and told that ‘there is no separate counter for the handicapped’. They are then asked to stand in the queue meant for senior citizens.” He said this behaviour was “not only unjust but also a violation of the rights of persons with disabilities”.Mundi stated that he personally met Dr Parminder Singh, Senior Medical Officer (SMO) at the Civil Hospital, who had issued clear instructions to the hospital staff to treat differently abled persons with special care and courtesy. “It is unfortunate,” Mundi said, “that despite these directions, no effective compliance has been made so far.”The Physically Handicapped Association has demanded that the special counter for the differently abled be immediately restored and that strict disciplinary action be taken against the staff responsible for its closure.Mundi also warned that if their demands are ignored, the association will be “forced to take the matter to the next level in the interest of public welfare”.When contacted, Deputy Commissioner Komal Mittal acknowledged the issue, saying, “It is wrong to close such a counter meant for differently abled citizens.” She assured that an inquiry would be conducted immediately, and “necessary action will be taken to reopen the counter without delay”.Stay updated with the latest - Click here to follow us on Instagram© The Indian Express Pvt LtdTags:mohali