Delhi HC has notified ZEE regarding the availability of FIFA World Cup streaming for the visually impaired

The platform owns the exclusive streaming rights for the 2026 FIFA World Cup in India. File | Photo credit: The Hindu

The Delhi High Court has issued a notice to Zee Entertainment Enterprises Limited on a petition alleging that its OTT platform, ZEE5, is inaccessible to the visually impaired, preventing them from independently accessing digital content, including live streaming of the ongoing FIFA World Cup 2026.

Hearing a petition filed by disability rights lawyer Rahul Bajaj on July 2, Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma directed the central government to file its reply within two weeks.

The petition, filed through advocates Amritesh Mishra, Sarah and Amar Jain, claims that their client Mr Bajaj was unable to independently access ZEE5 to watch the 2026 FIFA World Cup, for which the platform holds exclusive streaming rights in India.

They claimed that ZEE5’s over-the-top (OTT) streaming platforms, apps and websites are inaccessible to people who are blind or visually impaired and rely on screen reader technologies such as TalkBack, VoiceOver and Voice Assistant.

“Suffice it to say that currently all digital platforms operating in the Indian market have an ongoing legal obligation to ensure that they are accessible to persons with disabilities,” the lawsuit said.

He added that “the ZEE5 platform is inaccessible at the very threshold: even purchasing a subscription is a serious challenge due to unlabeled buttons and an otherwise inaccessible interface that cannot be meaningfully navigated with a screen reader”.

“Even where a subscription is somehow obtained, the platform suffers from pervasive obstacles — unlabeled or mislabeled controls, unstable focus and automatic cursor movement, an inaccessible media player, poor content search, and dynamic interface behavior that disrupts assistive technology,” the lawsuit adds.

The plea argued that the Supreme Court in Pragya Prasun v. Union of India had recognized the right to digital access as an integral part of the fundamental right to life under Article 21.

“First of all, it is not that the broadcast of the World Cup should undergo any modification in favor of the disabled. He is satisfied with the audio commentary offered at the moment. He complains that the platform itself is inaccessible, so a blind user cannot access the commentary independently at all,” adds the lawsuit.

Published – 04 Jul 2026 03:27 IST