The Delhi High Court has asked the central government, the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC), film producers and other stakeholders to deliberate on making films more accessible to people with disabilities. The court has directed the parties to work towards a mutually acceptable solution covering films released in theatres as well as on OTT platforms.
Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma passed the order on August 10 while hearing a plea filed by disability rights activist and lawyer Rahul Bajaj. The petition was initially filed in 2024 around the release of Pushpa 2: The Rule. However, the proceedings have now expanded to address accessibility in films more broadly.
“This Court considers it appropriate to afford an opportunity to all concerned
stakeholders to deliberate upon the issue and explore a mutually acceptable resolution. Accordingly, a joint meeting of all stakeholders, including the petitioner and the respondents, shall be convened within a period of one week from today to consider the broader concerns regarding accessibility of films raised by the petitioner,” the order said, as quoted by Bar and Bench.
During the recent hearing, Bajaj told the court that his concern was not limited to Pushpa 2 but extended to the accessibility of films in general.
Following this, the court directed the concerned stakeholders, including the petitioner and respondents, to participate in a joint meeting within one week. They have also been asked to arrive at a workable resolution within two weeks. The matter will next be heard on September 11, when the court is expected to consider the outcome of the discussions.
What Did The Plea Say?
Bajaj’s petition seeks accessibility features that would allow audiences with different disabilities to enjoy films on an equal footing. Some of these provisions include audio descriptions, same-language subtitles, captioning and Indian Sign Language. The plea also sought measures from the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) and the CBFC to ensure that theatres have appropriate accessibility features, assistive devices and technologies.
