Delhi High Court seeks Swiggy, Zepto response to plea flagging accessibility concerns for PwDs

The Delhi High Court on Wednesday issued notice to Swiggy, Zepto and the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) on a petition alleging that the mobile applications of these platforms are inaccessible to persons with disabilities (PwDs), particularly those with visual impairments..The plea was heard by Justice Sachin Datta, who directed the companies to file a response and adjourned it for hearing on May 28..The petition, filed by non-governmental organisation Mission Accessibility, claims that both platforms are in violation of constitutional rights under Articles 14, 19 and 21, as well as provisions of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016 (RPwD Act) and the RPwD Rules, 2017.Advocates Rahul Bajaj and Amar Jain appeared as parties-in-person and highlighted how the inaccessibility of Swiggy and Zepto’s platforms prevents visually impaired users from independently accessing essential services. They explained the functioning of screen reader software and argued that both the platforms were in "blatant violation" of statutory accessibility requirements.It was submitted that while the RPwD Rules mandated compliance with accessibility standards by 2019, both companies have "continued to roll out new services and offerings that remain inaccessible to screen reader users.".According to the petition, Swiggy and Zepto have failed to comply with mandatory digital accessibility standards under Sections 40 and 46 of the RPwD Act and Rule 15 of the RPwD Rules, 2017. It highlights issues such as inaccessible search functions, unlabeled icons, absence of critical product details and lack of voice-guided features for tasks like returning items.“The exclusionary design of these platforms forces persons with disabilities to rely on third parties to access basic services, severely restricting their autonomy and independence,” the petition states.Mission Accessibility has sought directions for:A detailed accessibility audit by government-empaneled auditors.Submission of a time-bound action plan to remove existing barriers.Implementation of long-term strategies ensuring compliance with BIS IS 17802 standards.Mandatory sensitisation programs for developers and customer support teams.Making return and refund processes accessible for visually impaired users.The petition, filed through Advocates Sarah and Taha Bin Tanseem, has also urged the Court to direct MeitY to enforce compliance and invoke penalties under Sections 89 and 90 of the RPwD Act against non-conforming entities.