02 February 2024 Human Right Law >> Civil & Consumer Law  

The Delhi High Court case of Amar Jain & Another v/s Roppen Transportation Services Pvt Ltd (Rapido) & Others (W.P.(C). No. 14735 of 2023) sees a new development. The Petitioners, represented by visually impaired individuals, have filed an application seeking further action from the Court.

Application Focuses on Accessibility Barriers:

This application centers on the accessibility concerns faced by visually impaired users within the Rapido mobile application. The Petitioners reiterate the issues outlined in the original writ petition, likely similar to those presented against Ola in the previous case. These concerns include:

• Inability to Cancel Rides Independently: The App lacks functionalities for visually impaired users to autonomously cancel booked rides.
• Difficulties with Driver Tracking: Real-time tracking of driver location within the App remains unavailable, necessitating dependence on external assistance.
• Absence of In-App Messaging: The App offers no built-in messaging system for communication between visually impaired users and drivers.
• Unlabelled Buttons: Critical buttons within the App, particularly those pertaining to payment options, are not labelled, rendering them inaccessible.

The Petitioners contend that these limitations constitute a violation of their right to independent mobility and equal access to public services.

Petitioners Seek Court Intervention: The application urges the Court to:

1. Issue a Writ of Mandamus: Compelling Respondent No. 1 (Rapido) to implement necessary modifications to ensure the App's accessibility for visually impaired users as outlined in the application.

2. Grant Permission for Live Demonstration: Granting the Petitioners the opportunity to demonstrate the accessibility shortcomings of the App in court, potentially through a live demonstration.

Next Steps:

The Court will determine whether to issue notice to Rapido regarding this application. Rapido will have the opportunity to file a response before the next hearing scheduled for April 2nd, 2024.

This application signifies the Petitioners' continued pursuit of accessible technology within the Rapido app and highlights the potential legal consequences for companies failing to address the needs of visually impaired users on their digital platforms.