Now Reading: Delhi HC orders talks on film accessibility for disabled
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Delhi HC orders talks on film accessibility for disabled
The Delhi High Court has directed the Centre, the CBFC, filmmakers and other stakeholders to hold a joint meeting within one week to discuss making films accessible to persons with disabilities across cinema and OTT platforms. Justice Swarna Kanta Sharma passed the order on August 10 on a petition by Rahul Bajaj, a disability rights activist and lawyer with visual impairment, and listed the matter for September 11.
Bajaj filed the petition in 2024 concerning the release of Pushpa 2: The Rule, but told the court his grievance extended to all films. He sought audio description, same-language closed captioning and Indian Sign Language, along with assistive technologies in theatres. The court recorded his contention that the current system "effectively excludes persons with visual and other disabilities from equal participation in and enjoyment of cinema".
The respondents said concerns over Pushpa 2 had been addressed, but Bajaj argued the issue was broader. The court agreed the grievance had "wider implications" and directed stakeholders to explore a mutually acceptable resolution. Medianama.com noted that the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting issued accessibility guidelines for OTT platforms on February 6, 2026, but the guidelines do not prescribe penalties for non-compliance.
Indian Opinion Analysis
Both sources report the Delhi High Court order in similar neutral tones, but with different framing choices. Medianama.com leads with the broader regulatory context, noting the absence of penalties in the OTT accessibility guidelines, which implies scepticism about enforcement. Livemint-style reporting by LiveLaw.in focuses narrowly on the court's procedural directions, omitting the compliance gap. The measured reading: the court has created a rare forum for stakeholders to negotiate accessibility standards, but without statutory teeth or a deadline beyond September 11, the outcome remains uncertain. Watch for the September 11 hearing, where the court will review the stakeholders' decision.
Coverage: 2 sources, 1 government-critical, 1 neutral
Sources (2): medianama.com (government critical), livelaw.in (neutral report)
This story was synthesised by AI from the 2 sources linked above. Methodology and corrections.
Updated: this story now draws on 2 sources.
