HC Notice To Swiggy, Zepto Over Unfriendly Apps For Visually-Impaired

The Delhi High Court (HC) has reportedly issued notices to foodtech major Swiggy and quick commerce giant Zepto over the unfriendly interface of their respective apps for visually-impaired users.

As per news agency PTI, the HC issued the direction while hearing a petition filed by NGO Mission Accessibility. Justice Sachin Datta reportedly directed both platforms and the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) to respond within four weeks.

The petition, led by accessibility advocate Amar Jain, argues that despite legal mandates under the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (RPwD) Act, 2016, both platforms have failed to ensure compatibility with screen-reader software. 

The petition alleges that this omission of screen reader software hinders visually impaired users from independently browsing products or placing orders on the two platforms. 

Putting forth its case, the plea claims that the inaccessibility of these apps violates the constitutional rights of persons with disabilities (PwDs) and denies equal access to essential services like food delivery and grocery shopping. 

The court has scheduled the matter for the next hearing on May 28.

This development follows a similar case involving ride-hailing unicorn Rapido. In September 2024, the Delhi High Court directed Rapido to submit an accessibility audit and compliance report within three months while hearing a petition by Jain and visually impaired banker Dipto Ghosh Chaudhary. 

The petition highlighted that Rapido’s app lacked features compatible with screen-reading software, making it difficult for users with disabilities to access services. 

In response, Rapido then said that it would overhaul its app to meet accessibility standards within six to eight months. However, in a recent hearing in March, the high court expressed dissatisfaction with Rapido’s progress. The court warned the ride-hailing platform to fix accessibility issues within four months or “pack up from India.” 

During the hearing, the court also questioned how Rapido was allowed to operate without complying with existing disability access laws.

Rapido’s audit report submitted to the High Court revealed 170 accessibility errors at Level A of the basic Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG), along with 81 major accessibility failures.

Notably, both cases shed light on increasing judicial scrutiny of tech platforms in India for failing to meet digital accessibility standards under Indian law, particularly the RPwD Act, 2016.