Court Orders Regular Audits and Upgrades to Ensure Mobile App Accessibility for Persons with Disabilities
In a significant ruling reinforcing the rights of persons with disabilities, the Delhi High Court has directed Roppen Transportation Services Pvt. Ltd., known as Rapido, to ensure its ride-booking mobile application complies with accessibility standards under the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016. The judgment, delivered by Justice Purushaindra Kumar Kaurav, emphasizes the statutory obligation of service providers to make digital interfaces accessible to individuals with disabilities, including compatibility with assistive technologies such as screen readers.
The petition, filed by Amar Jain and another petitioner, highlighted the challenges faced by visually impaired users in accessing essential functions of the Rapido app. The court acknowledged these grievances and mandated periodic accessibility audits to identify and rectify barriers, ensuring continued compliance with the Act.
Justice Kaurav underscored the substantive equality-driven obligation under Section 42 of the Act, which demands accessible information and communication technology for persons with disabilities. The court affirmed that mobile applications offering essential services fall within this ambit and must ensure effective access.
The court directed Rapido to incorporate petitioner suggestions, where feasible, and provide reasons if any technical infeasibility arises. Additionally, the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, represented by Mr. Mukul Singh, submitted affidavits outlining compliance with the Motor Vehicles Act guidelines, which include accessibility provisions for aggregators.
This judgment not only reinforces the rights of disabled individuals to access digital services but also places an ongoing duty on the government and service providers to ensure compliance through continuous monitoring and upgrades. The case sets a precedent for other app-based services, highlighting the importance of incorporating accessibility in line with evolving technologies.
Bottom Line:
Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016 - Mobile app aggregators providing essential services such as transport and mobility must ensure their platforms are accessible to persons with disabilities, including compatibility with assistive technologies like screen readers.
Statutory provision(s): Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016 Sections 3, 40, 42, and 43; Rights of Persons with Disabilities Rules, 2017 Rule 15(2); Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 Section 93
Amar Jain v. Roppen Transportation Services Pvt Ltd (Rapido), (Delhi) : Law Finder Doc id # 2887849
