Introduction:

In a significant ruling by the Delhi High Court, a directive has been issued to the Union Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) to finalize guidelines for enhancing accessibility for visually and hearing impaired individuals in cinemas. The case, initiated by various Persons with Disabilities (PwDs) seeking enforcement of their rights under the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016, underscores the importance of making cinema more inclusive and accessible.

Arguments:

The petitioners, represented by Mr. Rahul Bajaj and Ms. Mahoor Ghani, Advocates, argued for the implementation of accessibility measures, including captions, audio descriptions, and subtitles, in films to cater to the needs of visually and hearing impaired individuals. On the other hand, counsel for respondents, including Mr. Abhishek Malhotra, Ms. Srishti Gupta, and others, defended the stakeholders’ position, emphasizing the need for balanced implementation considering practical challenges.

Court’s Judgement:

Justice Prathiba M Singh directed the MIB to finalize and notify guidelines by July 15, making accessibility features mandatory in feature films. The court underscored the importance of accessibility as a legal right, stating that non-provision of accessibility features would constitute an offence under the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act. Additionally, the court emphasized the State’s obligation to ensure reasonable accommodation measures for PwDs and mandated prompt response to representations for inclusion of accessibility features in films.