Delhi High Court engages sign language interpreter to explain proceedings to hearing impaired people

The Delhi High Court on Tuesday witnessed a sign language interpreter explaining the proceedings to hearing impaired people.

The matter concerned a plea by a group of lawyers, law students and hearing and visually impaired people demanding that arrangements should be made in theatres and on Over-the-Top (OTT) platforms so that movies can be enjoyed by people with hearing and visual disabilities

Justice Prathiba M Singh presided over the hearing case.

She had previously ordered that sign language interpreters will be engaged in the matter as the petition raises very important issue about accessibility of entertainment for visually and hearing impaired people.

When the case was taken up today, Justice Singh asked the interpreter to stand in front of the Court and describe the proceedings to the petitioner and others through sign language. 

The judge said that the interpreter will now be engaged for all the future hearings of the case.

While the case was initially about the recently release Shah Rukh Khan-starrer Pathaan, the Court had said that it will deal with the larger issue of accessibility for persons with disabilities as well. 

In the last hearing, the High Court had directed the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) to hold a stakeholders' meeting and come up with suggestions so that people with disabilities can equally enjoy movies.

The Central government filed a response today stating that it has held consultations with the industry bodies. The report revealed that stakeholders have raised some concerns on the issue.

However, Justice Singh observed that such concerns could be easily addressed if some flexibility is shown by the movie industry.

“The opinion of the Court is that the industry would have to show more sensitivity towards persons with disabilities inasmuch as the provisions of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act (RPWD Act) have to be borne in mind… The law having been brought in force six to seven years back and yet the people with disabilities are not able to access even basic forms of entertainment is a cause of concern,” the Bench said.

The Court, therefore, impleaded the Film Federation of India and the South Indian Film Chamber of Commerce as parties to the case and issued notice to them.

Justice Singh also impleaded and issued notice to the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) and the film theatres association.

She ordered the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) to give wide publicity to the Court’s orders so that the other stakeholders can also take part in the deliberations. 

Advocate Rahul Bajaj appeared for the petitioners.