New Delhi: The Delhi High Court has again stressed on the need to incorporate accessibility features in Over-The-Top (OTT) platforms for persons with disabilities, criticising the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting for delay in the same. The features include closed captions and Indian sign language interpretation for the hearing impaired, and audio descriptions and dialogue boost for the visually impaired.
The court Monday directed the ministry to expedite the process for formulation of OTT accessibility guidelines, failing which the joint secretary was directed to be present at the next date of hearing. It was hearing a petition to incorporate accessibility features in OTT content, both existing and future releases, for persons with visual and hearing impairments.
Pulling up the ministry, Justice Sachin Datta gave it the “last opportunity” to file a status reply within four weeks on the “process of formulating guidelines regarding the inclusion of disabled-friendly accessibility features for content on OTT platforms, in accordance with the provisions of RPwD Act, 2016”.
Enacted in 2016, the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act ensures rights, dignity and equal opportunities for people with disabilities.
The court also agreed to consider, on the next date of hearing, the plea for preventing OTT platforms from broadcasting any new content that does not have the requisite accessibility features.
It noted a previous statement by the ministry wherein it stated that “draft guidelines in this regard had been prepared” and were in the process of being “finalised”. Despite directions that the process for the guidelines be expedited, “it appears that necessary steps have not been taken by the concerned ministry”, observed the court.
In case “relevant guidelines are not formulated, Joint Secretary shall join the proceedings virtually on the next date of hearing”, it added.
Lastly, the court directed Super Cassettes and Jio Studios, which were respondents to the petition, to ensure that all their future releases are accompanied with accessibility features. “Needless to say, the said respondents shall continue to ensure incorporation of accessibility features in future releases as well,” it ordered.
The HC had on 19 May directed OTT platforms and film producers to incorporate accessibility features into their content to benefit the differently-abled. The court mandated these features for specific films, such as ‘The Buckingham Murders’ and ‘Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3′, and ordered that they must be included in future film releases on OTT platforms.
(Edited by Nida Fatima Siddiqui)
Also Read: Is the golden age of OTT over? Censorship, stars, and the shift to ‘safe’ content