In a writ petition filed before the Delhi High Court by India Signing Hands, an organization for improving accessibility and providing information, news, and entertainment in Indian Sign Language for the deaf as well as hard of hearing community, a Single Judge Bench of Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma issued notice.

By the present petition, directions were sought upon the Union of India to amend and revise the ‘Guidelines on Accessibility Standards in the Public Exhibition of Feature Films in Cinema Theatres’ dated 15-03-2024 to include Indian Sign Language (ISL) interpretation as one of the mandatory accessibility features, apart from Closed/Open Captioning in strict compliance with Section 42(ii) of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016.

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Directions were also sought upon the respondents to take all necessary steps to ensure effective implementation and enforcement of ISL interpretation in the public exhibition of feature films across all cinema theatres, OTT platforms, and all other media formats in India.

The Court issued notice and directed a counter affidavit to be filed within three weeks. The matter will now be listed in the category of differently-abled persons on 02-09-2026.