Bench: Justice Purushaindra Kumar Kaurav
Title: Rahul Bajaj v. Mythri Movie Makers & Ors.
Case No.: W.P.(C) 16833/2024
Date of Order: 19 February 2026
Next Date of Hearing: 07 May 2026
Law / Policies invoked:
- Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016
- RPwD Rules, 2017
- Cinematograph (Certification) Rules, 2024
- Film Accessibility Guidelines 2024
- IS 17802
- Rule 22(4)(d)
Introduction
Accessibility in cinema is not achieved merely by embedding audio descriptions or captions into a film. Persons with disabilities must also be able to independently discover which films are accessible, book tickets independently, access the required assistive technologies at the theatre, and receive technical support whenever accessibility features fail. Without this supporting ecosystem, accessibility remains largely theoretical.
Recognising these practical barriers, the Delhi High Court, in an interim order dated 19 February 2026 in Rahul Bajaj v. Mythri Movie Makers & Ors., has directed the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB), the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), and the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) to act upon a series of recommendations aimed at strengthening the implementation of India's film accessibility framework. Significantly, the Court has also directed that where any recommendation is not implemented, the concerned authority must place the reasons on affidavit before the Court.
Rather than creating new accessibility obligations, the order seeks to ensure the effective implementation of the existing legal framework under the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016, the Cinematograph (Certification) Rules, 2024, and the Guidelines of Accessibility Standards in the Public Exhibition of Feature Films in Cinema Theatres, 2024. The focus of the Court's directions is on making accessibility practical, transparent, and enforceable so that persons with disabilities can participate in the cinema-going experience on an equal basis with others.
Beyond Accessibility Features: The Missing Information Barrier
While accessibility features may exist for certain films, the petitioner highlighted that persons with disabilities often have no reliable way of knowing whether a film actually includes these features before purchasing tickets. Nor is there publicly available information regarding:
- how to access these accessibility features through mobile applications or assistive technologies;
- which application or hardware is required in a particular cinema;
- whom to contact if accessibility features fail during a screening; and
- whether ticket-booking applications themselves comply with accessibility standards.
The petition also pointed out that although the Cinematograph (Certification) Rules, 2024 require accessibility materials to accompany certification, implementation remains inconsistent and, in practice, often limited only to English captions rather than captions or audio descriptions in the original language of the film.
Suggestions Accepted by the Court
Pursuant to liberty granted earlier, the petitioner filed detailed written submissions proposing a structured framework for implementation. These recommendations included:
- creation of an independent mechanism enabling persons with disabilities to identify films carrying accessibility features before booking tickets;
- mandatory publication of information explaining how accessibility features can be accessed in theatres;
- disclosure of technical support details for accessibility services;
- ensuring that cinema ticket-booking applications and accessibility delivery applications comply with the accessibility requirements under the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act and Rules;
- clarification by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting regarding the benchmarks used to approve accessibility software and applications;
- strict enforcement by the CBFC of Rule 22(4)(d) of the Cinematograph (Certification) Rules, 2024 by requiring same-language accessibility features rather than merely English captions; and
- modification of the CBFC's online film database to publicly disclose the accessibility features available for every certified film.
The petitioner supported these recommendations by referring to the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Rules, 2017, the Allocation of Business Rules, 1961, the Cinematograph (Certification) Rules, 2024, the 2024 Film Accessibility Guidelines, and Indian Standard IS 17802 governing accessibility of information and communication technology.
Directions Issued by the Delhi High Court
After examining the submissions, Justice Purushaindra Kumar Kaurav observed that the recommendations were required to be acted upon by different authorities according to their statutory responsibilities.
Accordingly, the Court directed:
- the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting to implement the recommendations relating to dissemination of accessibility information, availability of accessibility features, and clarification of standards for accessibility applications;
- the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology to ensure implementation of accessibility compliance for digital applications and websites used for cinema ticket booking and delivery of accessibility services; and
- the Central Board of Film Certification to consider and implement the recommendations relating to certification practices and public disclosure of accessibility features.
Most importantly, the Court directed all the concerned authorities and stakeholders to implement the petitioner's suggestions with due expedition.
The Court further held that if any recommendation is not implemented, the concerned authority must file an affidavit through its competent officer explaining the specific reasons for non-implementation.
The matter has been listed for further consideration on 7 May 2026.
Why This Order Matters
Although interim in nature, the order represents an important judicial recognition that accessibility is not limited to embedding audio descriptions or captions within films. Accessibility also requires that persons with disabilities receive timely, accurate, and accessible information enabling them to discover accessible films, purchase tickets independently, activate accessibility features during screenings, and obtain technical support when required.
The order also reinforces the accountability of multiple government agencies—including MIB, MeitY and CBFC—in ensuring that the accessibility obligations introduced through the 2024 Film Accessibility Guidelines and the Cinematograph (Certification) Rules, 2024 are translated into meaningful practice.
If effectively implemented, these directions have the potential to transform the cinema-going experience for persons with disabilities by making accessibility both available and discoverable, thereby promoting equal participation in cultural life consistent with the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016 and India's obligations under the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.