Advocate and Mission Accessibility Co-Founder Rahul Bajaj has issued a legal notice to ZEE5 alleging that the streaming platform is inaccessible to persons with blindness and low vision, in violation of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016, the Rules framed thereunder, and the accessibility standard IS 17802. The notice calls upon the platform to rectify the identified accessibility barriers within one week, failing which appropriate legal proceedings may be initiated.

According to the notice, persons with visual disabilities rely on screen readers to navigate digital platforms independently, requiring every button, control, and interface element to be properly labelled and compatible with assistive technology. It alleges that ZEE5’s interface contains several accessibility barriers, including unlabelled or incorrectly labelled buttons, an inaccessible layout, and the failure of screen readers to convey essential information, making both subscription purchase and content consumption extremely difficult for blind and low vision users.

The notice also refers to previous action taken by the Office of the Chief Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities against inaccessible digital platforms and urges ZEE5 to bring its services into compliance with the law. It additionally calls upon the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology and the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities to issue appropriate directions to ensure accessibility and prevent discrimination against persons with disabilities.