Delhi High Court seeks response from RBI, IIT Delhi, Central Government on plea to ensure digital banking access to visually impaired

The Delhi High Court on Monday sought the response of the Central government, Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi (IIT Delhi) on a plea seeking constitution of a committee to formulate guidelines so that visually impaired persons can access online and technology-based banking services [George Abraham v Union of India and Ors]. .A Division Bench of Acting Chief Justice Vipin Sanghi and Justice Navin Chawla issued notices to the RBI, the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment as well as Director of the Indian Institute of Technology IIT Delhi. The Bench directed the respondents to suggest the names of competent persons who could be part of the committee to address the issues raised. The case will now be considered on May 26. .The development came about after an application was moved in an already pending public interest litigation (PIL) petition seeking directions to the Centre and RBI to ensure banking accessibility to visually impaired people. Notices were issued by the court in the petition earlier and a reply was filed by the RBI in August 2020 stating that it has issued various circulars that address that issue and compliance with the same is the responsibility of the banks. .However, the petitioner has now argued that the laws to ensure access to financial services for the visually impaired, including the RBI’s circular, are being haphazardly implemented and this is despite the fact that RBI has wide powers to ensure compliance of its directions. The plea stated that millions of blind and visually impaired people are not able to use ATMs, digital payment wallets and banking apps because they lack accessibility."Some financial services used by the public such as digital payment wallets or vendor card payment machines appear to offer no access whatsoever for visually impaired persons," it further stated. .It added that there are several simple solutions that can be implemented to facilitate blind people's access to these services and therefore a committee should be constituted to formulate guidelines in this regard. This committee, the petitioner said, can have representatives from the department of social justice, professors of IIT with expertise in software design and people who are visually challenged. "The said approach can guide this Hon’ble Court in its endeavor to uphold the rights guaranteed to the 12 million blind people and 50 million visually impaired persons in India under Articles 14, 19 and 21 of the Constitution and Sections 3(1), 13(1) and (2), and 42 of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016," the plea said..The petition has been filed by a social worker named George Abraham through advocate Srishti Agnihotri. It was argued by advocate Abhishek Jebaraj.