Deduction in the case of totally blind or physically handicapped resident persons
80U. 51 [(1)] In computing the total income of an individual, being a resident, who, as at the end of the previous year,—
( i) is totally blind, or
( ii) is subject to or suffers from a permanent physical disability (other than blindness) 52[being a permanent physical disability specified in the rules made in this behalf by the Board, and] which has the effect of reducing substantially his capacity to engage in a gainful employment or occupation, 53[or]
53 [(iii) is subject to mental retardation to the extent specified in the rules made in this behalf by the Board, and which has the effect of reducing substantially his capacity to engage in a gainful employment or occupation,]
Provided that such individual produces before the 55[Assessing] Officer, in respect of the first assessment year for which deduction is claimed under this section,—
( a) in a case referred to in clause (i), a certificate as to his total blindness from a registered medical practitioner being an oculist; 56[***]
( b) in a case referred to in clause (ii), a certificate as to the permanent physical disability referred to in the said clause from a registered medical practitioner; 57 [and]
58 [(c) in a case referred to in clause (iii), a certificate as to the mental retardation from a psychiatrist working in a Government hospital.]
59 [(2) The Board shall, in making any rules for specifying any disability or mental retardation for the purposes of clause (ii) or clause (iii), as the case may be, of sub-section (1), have regard to the nature of such disability or mental retardation and the effect which such disability or mental retardation is likely to have on the capacity of a person subject thereto, or suffering therefrom, to engage in a gainful employment or occupation.]
The following section 80U shall be substituted for the original section 80U by the Finance (No. 2) Act, 1991, w.e.f. 1-4-1992 :
Deduction in the case of permanent physical disability (including blindness).
80U. In computing the total income of an individual, being a resident, who, at the end of the previous year, is suffering from a permanent physical disability (including blindness) or is subject to mental retardation, being a permanent physical disability or mental retardation specified in the rules made in this behalf by the Board, which is certified by a physician, a surgeon, an oculist or a psychiatrist, as the case may be, working in a Government hospital and which has the effect of reducing considerably such individual’s capacity for normal work or engaging in a gainful employment or occupation, there shall be allowed a deduction of a sum of twenty thousand rupees:
Provided that such individual produces the aforesaid certificate before the Assessing Officer in respect of the first assessment year for which he claims deduction under this section:
Provided further that the requirement of producing the aforesaid certificate from a physician, a surgeon, an oculist or a psychiatrist, as the case may be, working in a Government hospital shall not apply to an individual who has already produced a certificate before the Assessing Officer under the provisions of this section as they stood immediately before the 1st day of April, 1992.
Explanation : For the purposes of this section, the expression "Government hospital" shall have the meaning assigned to it in the Explanation to section 80DD.