Bombay HC directs Maharashtra government to make its websites disabled-friendly

A Division Bench of the Bombay High Court has ordered the state government to ensure that websites administered by it are disabled friendly, in keeping with the Guidelines for Indian Government Websites..The Bench of Acting Chief Justice Naresh Patil and Justice RG Kektar also directed the Indian Railways to take necessary steps to upgrade its systems..The counsel for State Bank of India, which was asked to incorporate Marathi into its “website system”, informed the Court that he would seek instructions regarding the same..The Bench was hearing a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) dating back to 2012, filed by the NGO Disability Rights Initiative. The NGO was represented by Kranti LC..A counsel appearing on behalf of the High Court informed the Bench that a cell of experts monitored by a committee of judges was working on the upgradation of the Bombay High Court website..The Court ordered the Principal Secretary of the State of Maharashtra to monitor the implementation programme in coordination with the Principal Secretaries of other Ministries, including the Urban Development Ministry..The Bench also gave the state liberty to ensure compliance of local bodies such as Zilla Parishads, Municipal Councils and Panchayats..It was also directed that the state government file a status report within three months and that the National Informatics Centre (NIC) file a similar report in respect to the steps taken consequent to the order..Read the order