Frame Guidelines To Make Movies Enjoyable For Visually & Hearing Impaired People: Delhi HC to Centre

A group of visually-impaired people, lawyers and law students sought directions from the Delhi High Court to implement the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (RPwD) Act and RPwD Rules, in order to enable specially-abled persons to watch movies in theatres and OTT platforms with ease.

As a result of the hearing, the Court’s order asked the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (I&B Ministry) to frame guidelines so that movies on OTT and in theatres could be enjoyed by the hearing and visually impaired. The Court ordered the I&B Ministry to hold a meeting with movie producers, television broadcasters, OTT platforms and various stakeholders to frame the guidelines required.

The order stated, “Discussion to be held to discuss the manner in which the provisions of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act and Rights of Persons with Disabilities Rules, as well as the circular issued by the Government of India, is to be implemented. The ministry may frame guidelines in this regard and submit the draft guidelines before the court.”

The hearing also saw the court ordering the Registrar General to take into consideration the possibility of having an interpreter for High Court proceedings. Recently, the movie Pathaan was released on an OTT platform with subtitles and audio description features, as per a previous court order.

“A perusal of the rules shows that the term ‘facilities’ has been defined in a very broad manner. This court is of the opinion that a broad stakeholder consultation is required in order to ensure that the act as well as the government circular is implemented in letter and spirit,” the Court added.

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