The Delhi High Court has instructed the Centre, Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC), filmmakers, and other stakeholders to discuss and implement accessibility features for persons with disabilities in cinema halls and OTT platforms. The directive came during a hearing on August 10, 2026, with Justice Swarna Kanta Sharma ordering a joint meeting within one week and a decision within two weeks, according to medianama.com.
The court's order followed a petition filed in 2024 by disability rights activist and lawyer Rahul Bajaj, initially related to the release of Pushpa 2: The Rule but later expanded to address broader accessibility issues in films. Bajaj requested features such as audio description, same-language closed captioning, Indian Sign Language, and assistive technologies in theatres. The court emphasized the need for wider compliance with the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting’s accessibility guidelines issued on March 15, 2024.
The court noted Bajaj's argument that the current system fails to provide equal access to cinema for persons with disabilities, highlighting that films, including Pushpa 2: The Rule, continue to be exhibited without adequate accessibility measures. The directive aims to ensure that accessibility is integrated systematically across all film and OTT content, addressing a significant gap in the entertainment sector's inclusivity efforts.
The matter is scheduled for further consideration on September 11, 2026, when the court will review the outcomes of the stakeholders’ discussions and the progress made towards implementing the accessibility features mandated in the order.