The Delhi High Court has asked ICICI Bank to respond to a petition claiming that visually impaired individuals are being excluded from using its digital banking services. The plea alleges this amounts to discrimination against disabled users.
The Delhi High Court issued a notice to ICICI Bank regarding a petition that claims the bank’s digital platforms are not structurally accessible, thereby violating the fundamental rights of visually impaired individuals.
Justice Vikas Mahajan has requested a response from the bank.
Petitioners Anchal Bhatheja and Rahul Jain have accused ICICI of not adhering to statutory and constitutional requirements for digital accessibility.
They pointed out that the bank is infringing on the Supreme Court’s ruling in Pragya Prasun v. Union of India, which established that digital accessibility is part of the right to life and liberty under Article 21 of the Constitution.
Bhatheja and Jain highlighted that ICICI’s Mobile Pay app, website, and InstaBIZ platform lack essential accessibility features, making it difficult for screen readers to interpret login fields due to unlabelled buttons.
They contended that critical tasks, such as adding a payee or completing transactions, require cumbersome workarounds.
Additionally, features like grid-based two-factor authentication and swipe-to-pay prompts become unmanageable without disabling assistive technology.
The petitioners noted that these obstacles hinder independent access, compelling users with disabilities to rely on sighted assistance, which undermines their privacy, autonomy, and dignity. They further argued that these accessibility issues expose them to risks of financial fraud, errors, and emotional distress.
The plea asserts that the inaccessibility of ICICI’s platforms constitutes a violation of Articles 14, 19, and 21 of the Constitution.
It also cites the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016, which mandates that all service providers ensure full accessibility within two years of the rules’ notification.
The compliance deadline under the amended RPwD Rules is set to expire on May 10, 2025.
Advocates Afreen Gauri and Sarah represented the petitioners in this case.
Case Title: Anchal Bhatheja and Anr v ICICI Bank Limited and Others