The Delhi High Court has called for a response from ZEE Entertainment Enterprises Limited over allegations that the live streaming of the FIFA World Cup 2026 on its ZEE5 platform is not adequately accessible to people with visual disabilities.
The matter came before Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma after a petition was filed by visually impaired lawyer and disability rights advocate Rahul Bajaj, who argued that the exclusive streaming arrangement for the tournament has effectively denied blind and low-vision users an equal opportunity to enjoy one of the world’s biggest sporting events.
While issuing notice to ZEE, the Court also directed the broadcaster to take steps toward aligning its platform with the applicable Indian digital accessibility standards. In its July 2 order, the Court requested the company to work towards compliance with the Bureau of Indian Standards’ IS 17802:2022 framework governing accessibility requirements and conformance for ICT products and services.
According to the petition, Bajaj subscribed to ZEE5 specifically to watch the FIFA World Cup but could complete the subscription process only with assistance from others. Even after obtaining access, he claims several accessibility barriers prevented him from independently navigating the platform and watching the matches using screen-reader technology.
The plea contends that these shortcomings affect not only the petitioner but also a wider community of blind and low-vision users, alleging that ZEE has failed to meet its continuing legal obligation to make its digital services accessible.
It further argues that the platform’s inaccessibility infringes constitutional guarantees as well as protections available under the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016.
Before approaching the High Court, Bajaj had served a legal notice on the broadcaster, asserting that it did not acknowledge or address the concerns raised.
The petition seeks multiple directions from the Court, including:
- Submission of a comprehensive accessibility audit conducted by a government-empanelled accessibility auditor, identifying barriers faced by persons with disabilities.
- A time-bound plan to make the ZEE5 platform fully compliant with Indian accessibility standards and independently usable through screen-reader technology.
- Continuous maintenance of accessibility standards throughout the platform’s operation.
- Permanent publication of an Accessibility Conformance Report on the platform, along with regular accessibility training for developers, designers and customer support personnel.
The case has been listed for further hearing on September 17. Meanwhile, the FIFA World Cup 2026, for which ZEE5 holds exclusive streaming rights in India, is scheduled to conclude on July 19.
