Ruling overturned as court finds man visually impaired

KUWAIT CITY, Sept 7: The Court of Appeals overturned the ruling of a lower court and decision of the Technical Committee at the Public Authority for Disability Affairs (PADA) regarding the disability of a citizen. The court granted the citizen, who is covered by the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Law, a certificate confirming that his visual impairment is moderate and permanent. The appellant filed a case through his lawyer, Attorney Ali Jawhar, demanding for the annulment of the decision of the committee, which concluded that his condition is not a disability. He explained that he suffered from certain eye conditions and diseases that resulted in the loss of vision. Jawhar insisted on annulling the contested decision and its consequences, based on medical reports that confirmed the nature of his client's health condition. The lower court had earlier dismissed the case, but the Court of Appeals found that this ruling is not in accordance with the law. Based on the report of the appointed medical committee, the Court of Appeals confirmed that the visual acuity of the appellant did not exceed the ability to count fingers with both eyes and that his condition could not be improved by any intervention. The Court of Appeals concluded that his condition is classified as moderate visual impairment. The court canceled the appealed judgment and the contested decision to include the appellant among those covered by Law No. 8/2010, open a file for him at PADA, and grant him a certificate of moderate and permanent visual impairment By Jaber Al-Hamoud Al-Seyassah/Arab Times Staff