Supreme Court Mandates Inclusive Ekyc For Disabled, Says Digital Access A right: Report

The Supreme Court of India connected Tuesday acknowledged nan correct to integer entree arsenic integral to nan basal correct to life nether Article 21 of nan Constitution. This landmark determination mandates nan revision of existing integer Know Your Customer (eKYC) norms to guarantee inclusivity for persons pinch disabilities, specified arsenic acerb onslaught survivors and those who are visually impaired, Livelaw reported.

The directive was portion of a ruling by Justices J B Pardiwala and R. Mahadevan, responding to circumstantial challenges faced by susceptible groups successful accessing integer services. 

In a important move aimed astatine bridging nan integer divide, nan Court emphasised nan law imperative of integer inclusivity. "Bridging nan integer disagreement is nary longer a matter of argumentation discretion but has go a law imperative," wrote Justice Mahadevan, highlighting nan necessity for adjacent integer entree successful a quickly digitising world. These directions are expected to make authorities portals, learning systems, and fintech services accessible to susceptible populations.

The Court's ruling was catalysed by 2 writ petitions from individuals pinch disabilities who faced barriers pinch nan existing eKYC processes. The procedures requiring facial recognition, caput movements, aliases beingness signatures posed important challenges for galore pinch ocular impairments aliases facial disfigurements. Acid onslaught subsister Pragya Prasun, 1 of nan petitioners, based on against nan discriminatory request for a "live photograph," a instruction nether nan Reserve Bank of India's 2016 KYC Master Directions. Amar Jain, different petitioner who is wholly blind, pointed retired nan inaccessibility of surface signatures and insubstantial shape uploads. 

As reported by LiveLaw, nan Court highlighted that nan petitioners are safeguarded by nan Rights of Persons pinch Disabilities Act, 2016, granting them nan correct to "reasonable accommodation" erstwhile accessing services.

While nan broad judgement is still pending upload, nan Court is said to person issued 20 circumstantial directives to revamp nan existing eKYC strategy successful bid to guarantee accessibility for individuals pinch disabilities.

The ruling underscores nan authorities of these individuals nether nan Rights of Persons pinch Disabilities Act, 2016, which guarantees "reasonable accommodation" successful accessing services. The Supreme Court's determination is poised to group a precedent for enhancing accessibility successful integer services, aligning pinch nan Act's provisions and ensuring that integer platforms cater to nan needs of each users. By addressing these issues, nan Court intends to uphold nan dignity and authorities of persons pinch disabilities, reinforcing nan committedness to broad integer access.

Published on: Apr 30, 2025 4:20 PM IST