Delhi HC issues notice to ZEE over FIFA World Cup streaming accessibility for the visually challenged

The Delhi High Court has issued notice to Zee Entertainment Enterprises Limited on a petition claiming that its OTT platform, ZEE5, is inaccessible to persons with visual disabilities, preventing them from independently accessing digital content, including live coverage of the ongoing FIFA World Cup 2026.

Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma, hearing a petition filed by disability rights lawyer Rahul Bajaj, on July 2 also directed the Central government to submit its response within two weeks.

The petition filed through advocates Amritesh Mishra, Sarah, and Amar Jain, contends that their client Mr. Bajaj was unable to independently access ZEE5 to follow the FIFA World Cup 2026, for which the platform holds exclusive streaming rights in India.

They argued that ZEE5 platforms, the over-the-top (OTT) streaming application and website, are inaccessible to persons who are blind or have low vision and rely on screen-reader technologies such as TalkBack, VoiceOver and Voice Assistant.

“Suffice it to say that, at present, all digital platforms operating in the Indian market are under a continuing statutory obligation to ensure that they are accessible for persons with disabilities,” the plea said.

It added that “ZEE5 platform is inaccessible at the very threshold: even purchasing a subscription is a serious challenge on account of unlabelled buttons and an otherwise inaccessible interface, which cannot be meaningfully navigated using a screen reader”.

“Even where a subscription is somehow obtained, the platform suffers from pervasive barriers – unlabelled or wrongly labelled controls, unstable focus and automatic cursor movement, an inaccessible media player, poor content discovery and dynamic interface behaviour that disrupts assistive technology,” the plea added.

The plea argued that the Supreme Court, in Pragya Prasun v. Union of India case has held the right to digital access to be an integral facet of the fundamental right to life under Article 21.

“Specifically, it is not the petitioner’s say that the broadcast of the FIFA World Cup itself should undergo any modification for the benefit of the disabled. He is satisfied, for the moment, with the audio commentary being offered. His grievance is that the platform itself is inaccessible, such that a blind user cannot independently access the commentary at all,” the plea added.