Overview

• The Delhi High Court has issued notices to Swiggy, Zepto, and the IT Ministry following a petition alleging their apps are inaccessible to visually impaired users.
• Filed by the NGO Mission Accessibility, the petition cites violations of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act and India’s BIS IS 17802 digital accessibility standard, effective since 2023.
• Key accessibility barriers include unresponsive screen readers, unlabeled icons, and inaccessible payment and product search features, preventing independent app use by blind users.
• Mission Accessibility has requested court-mandated accessibility audits, public remediation roadmaps, staff training, and compliance disclosures from the platforms.
• The next hearing is scheduled for May 28, 2025, as the court seeks responses to address the lack of digital inclusion in essential services.