The Court of the Chief Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities (CCPD) has imposed fines on 155 organizations, including 87 government bodies and 68 private entities, for failing to adhere to digital accessibility standards. These organizations have been fined ₹10,000 each for not making their websites, mobile applications, and other online platforms accessible. The collected fines will be deposited into the National Fund for Persons with Disabilities.
CCPD has warned that if these organizations do not comply with accessibility standards by February 28, they will face stricter penalties. Previously, all ministries and companies were instructed to assess their digital accessibility and submit compliance reports. Additionally, they were required to appoint accessibility experts (access auditors) to evaluate their websites and apps. Despite this, only 20 organizations have appointed auditors, and just six have submitted their reports.
Organizations That Have Submitted Reports
Among the organizations that have submitted their compliance reports are:
- Ministry of External Affairs
- Tata Digital Private Ltd (Tata Neu)
- Reliance Industries Ltd (Jio Set-Top Box)
- National Depository Ltd
- Pluxee India Private Ltd
- Yatra Online Ltd
Several other government ministries and departments have taken partial steps by appointing auditors but have not yet submitted their required reports. These include:
- Ministry of Labour
- Ministry of Environment and Forests
- Ministry of Urban Affairs
- Ministry of Information and Broadcasting
- Ministry of Development of the North-East Region
- Department of Economic Affairs
- Department of Communication (Reserve Bank of India)
Organizations That Have Not Complied
Despite repeated deadlines, several ministries and organizations have not taken necessary actions to comply with CCPD’s directives. These include:
- Ministry of Home Affairs
- Ministry of Defence
- Ministry of Finance
- Ministry of Health
- Ministry of Agriculture
- Ministry of Railways
- Ministry of Transport
- Ministry of Commerce
- Ministry of Women and Child Development
- Ministry of Rural Development
- Ministry of Tribal Affairs
- NITI Aayog
- National Informatics Centre (NIC)
Compliance Review and Deadlines
A compliance review conducted on January 28 found that, despite an initial notice issued on August 7, 2024, most organizations failed to meet the requirements. The deadline for submitting reports was extended first to February 5 and later to February 12, yet many organizations have still not taken action.
To assist in compliance, the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities provided a list of approved accessibility experts. However, most entities have not utilized this support or taken meaningful steps.
CCPD’s Warning
CCPD has stressed the need for equal access to digital platforms, especially for individuals who are blind, deaf, or deaf-blind. Organizations that continue to ignore these mandatory accessibility requirements will face even harsher penalties in the upcoming review.