Delhi HC seeks Swiggy, Zepto reply on app inaccessibility for visually impaired

New Delhi: The Delhi High Court on Wednesday issued notices to quick commerce platforms Swiggy and Zepto, as well as the Central government, on a petition alleging that their mobile applications are not accessible to people with visual disabilities.

Justice Sachin Datta directed the parties to respond to the plea filed by the NGO Mission Accessibility within four weeks. The matter is scheduled for hearing on May 28.

The petitioner contended that the apps of Swiggy and Zepto are incompatible with screen-reader software, which visually impaired individuals rely on for navigating digital platforms. This incompatibility makes it difficult for them to search for products, place orders, or use key features of the apps independently.

Representing the NGO, advocate Amar Jain argued that the inaccessibility of these apps violates the legal mandate under the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016, and its associated rules, which required digital accessibility standards to be adopted by 2019.

The plea emphasized that the failure of the companies and authorities to ensure compliance with these standards not only hinders the autonomy of visually disabled users but also violates their fundamental rights under the Constitution of India. The lack of accessible search functions and interactive elements on these platforms, the petition said, creates significant barriers to equal digital participation and independent access to essential services.

By denying accessible services such as food delivery, grocery shopping, and restaurant reservations, the platforms are infringing upon the dignity and equal treatment of persons with disabilities, the NGO argued in its petition.

With PTI inputs