Court Of Chief Commissioner For Persons With Disabilities Asks Practo To Make Its App And Website Fully Accessible For The Disabled

The Court of Chief Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities on Wednesday directed Practo, an online healthcare service provider, to make its website and app fully accessible for the disabled and also affirmed that legal requirements and guidelines on accessibility apply to private companies as well. From a combined reading of Sections 40 and 46, the Court observed that it becomes clear that private establishments which are providing information & technology services are bound to make their services and infrastructure accessible for divyangjan in accordance with Sections 40 and 46 Rights of Persons with Disabilities Rules, 2017. However, the Court was not inclined to accept the contention raised by the 1st respondent and observed that from the mere reading of Section 46 of Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016, it is clear that the provisions are applicable to private establishments as well and the term 'whether government or private' used in the provisions leaves no room for debate whether this provision is applicable on private establishments or not. Thereby, the Court recommended that the 1st respondent, Practo Technologies Pvt Ltd., shall comply with the government guidelines and shall make necessary modifications within six months and not later than nine months to its app and other information and communication technology platforms to make such platforms accessible for the disabled people.