Delhi High Court Instructs Government, CBFC to Ensure Accessibility Features in Films
Order follows a petition by disability rights activist Rahul Bajaj highlighting the limited accessibility options available for the film 'Pushpa 2: The Rule'
The Delhi High Court has directed the Central government and the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) to take steps to ensure films are accessible to persons with disabilities, including through same-language subtitles, audio descriptions and other assistive features.
Justice Purushaindra Kumar Kaurav issued directions to the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), and the CBFC while hearing a petition filed by lawyer and disability rights activist Rahul Bajaj.
Bajaj, who has been visually impaired since birth, had moved the court highlighting the lack of accessibility features in the Pushpa 2: The Rule, starring Allu Arjun. In his plea, he said audio descriptions for the film were available in only a limited number of screens.
The court noted that Bajaj had made several suggestions to improve accessibility for disabled audiences and directed the concerned authorities to implement them expeditiously or explain why they could not be adopted. “Let all the aforesaid respondents/stakeholders implement the suggestions given by the petitioner with due expedition. If for any reason any of the suggestion is not implemented, let the specific reason be assigned by way of an affidavit of the Competent Authority,” the court said in its order.
Among the measures proposed in Bajaj’s written submissions were the introduction of a mechanism allowing viewers to know in advance whether a film includes accessibility features and instructions on how to access them. He also called for accessibility elements such as same-language subtitles, audio descriptions and closed captions to be made a condition for film certification.
In his petition, Bajaj said similar barriers had been faced by disabled audiences in recent releases such as Vettaiyan and Pani. He also raised concerns about the lack of enabling features on the ticketing platform BookMyShow for persons with disabilities.
The plea cited provisions of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016, which mandates that persons with disabilities should have access to electronic media through measures including audio description, captioning and sign language.
The matter is scheduled to be heard next on May 7.