Centre tells Delhi High Court OTT accessibility guidelines for hearing, visually impaired to be finalised

The Centre informed the Delhi High Court on Thursday (October 16, 2025) that it would finalise the accessibility guidelines for hearing and visually impaired persons on over-the-top (OTT) platforms in the next three months.

Justice Sachin Datta took on record the government undertaking that the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) has published the draft guidelines on its official website for comments from stakeholders and public.

The Ministry has stated that it was in the process of formulating guidelines regarding the inclusion of disabled-friendly accessibility features for content on OTT platforms, in accordance with the provisions of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (RPWD) Act, 2016.

The Court was hearing a petition filed by visually impaired persons who were aggrieved by the lack of disabled-friendly accessibility features in recently released Bollywood movies on OTT platforms.

“It is assured by Ministry’s (Ministry of Information and Broadcasting) counsel that the feedback/suggestion of the petitioner will be duly considered and taken into account before formulation of final guidelines. It is further assured and undertaken that the final guidelines shall be issued within three months,” the court said and disposed of the petition.

The Court had earlier directed the ministry to formulate guidelines in accordance with the RPWD Act.

The petitioners told the court that there were certain infirmities in the draft guidelines, claiming that the MIB had consulted with members of the industry, not with persons with disabilities, and that it was imperative that all stakeholders were consulted.

The Court also granted liberty to the petitioners to submit their response on the draft guidelines.

“In case the petitioner has any grievance with respect to the formulation of guidelines, he shall be at liberty to take legal recourse,” the court said.