Supreme Court To Hear Plea Of Acid Attack Survivors' Challenges To Complete 'Live Photograph' Requirement Of e-KYC Process

The Supreme Court yesterday briefly heard a petition seeing guidelines for an inclusive KYC process for acid attack survivors and persons with permanent eye damage. In this, petitioners sought directions to the Central authorities for framing appropriate guidelines providing for alternative methods to conduct the Digital KYC/e-KYC process for acid attack survivors suffering from permanent eye-disfigurement or eye burns, with the view to make the Digital KYC/e-KYC process more accessible and inclusive towards all disabled persons, particularly acid attack survivors. The petitioner prayed that the Centre clarifies the meaning and interpretation of 'Live Photograph' as mentioned in the Reserve Bank of India – KYC Master Directions, 2016 for conducting the Digital KYC/e-KYC and suitable alternatives be framed for this 'live photograph' considering the challenges faced by acid attack survivors and those with permanent eye-disfigurement. The main petitioner, who is an acid attack survivor who suffers from severe eye-disfigurement and facial damage cites the challenges that she faced while attempting to open a bank account.