PRAGYA PRASUN Vs. UNION OF INDIA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) Since the issues involved in both the writ petitions are common, interlinked, and similar, they were heard together and are disposed of by this common judgment.

(2.) Technology has played a transformative role in reshaping India's economy and governance. Initiatives such as Digital India aim to promote efficiency, transparency, and accessibility through digital means. Central to this transformation has been the creation of a robust digital infrastructure, including the Aadhaar program, online KYC mechanisms, and various electronic service delivery platforms. However, amidst this wave of digital progress, there remains a crucial and often overlooked aspect that demands urgent attention - ensuring that digital infrastructure and services are accessible to all, including persons with disabilities and other marginalised groups. True inclusion requires that technological advancements accommodate the diverse needs of all citizens, thereby fostering an environment where no individual is left behind. With this preface, we now proceed to examine the key issues involved in the cases before us.

(3.) While the petitioners in W.P(C) No.289 of 2024 are acid attack victims, who suffer from facial disfigurement and severe eye burns, the petitioner in W.P(C) No.49 of 2025 is suffering from 100% blindness. These writ petitions have been filed seeking directions to the various respondents to formulate appropriate rules and guidelines for conducting Digital KYC/ e-KYC / Video KYC process through alternative methods, with a view to ensuring that the process is more inclusive and accessible to all persons with disabilities-particularly acid attack survivors suffering from permanent facial/eye disfigurement and similarly placed individuals, including persons with blindness and low vision - in accordance with the provisions of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016 [For short, "the RPwD Act, 2016"], Rights of Persons with Disabilities Rules, 2017 [For short, "the RPwD Rules, 2017"], and Article 21 of the Constitution of India. The writ petitions further seek to ensure that adequate measures are undertaken to guarantee accessibility and provide reasonable accommodations for persons with disabilities, in accessing financial services, telecommunications, and government schemes.