(1) THE issue involved in this special leave petition is of great public importance. It concerns medical check-up and treatment of the visually-handicapped. There is no gain saying that health is an important facet of the right to life guaranteed under Article 21 of the Constitution of India and it is an obligation of the State to ensure good health to the citizens. When considered in the light of Article 41 of the directive principles, which casts a duty on the State to make effective provisions for securing inter alia the rights of the disabled and those suffering from other infirmities within the limits of its economic capacity and development, it becomes imperative that all steps should be taken for helping the visually-handicapped to regain their eyesight to the extent possible. While the writ petition filed by the petitioner on the basis of certain news items which appeared in certain newspapers was pending in the High Court, a counter-affidavit was filed by the Union of India along with which a scheme called "Scheme for periodical check-up and treatment of visually-handicapped persons admitted to blind schools run by Delhi administration or voluntary organisations fo