63 government websites are disabled-friendly, Centre informs HC

CHENNAI: At least 63 official websites of various Union ministries and central government departments have been made disabled-friendly and have got Website Quality Certification (WQC), Centre informed the Madras high court. Another 14 websites are awaiting certification.
A submission to this effect was made by additional solicitor-general G Rajagopalan when a PIL submitted by A Syed Ansari, of Avadi, to convert all the government websites to be disabled-friendly, came up for hearing.Ansari, a visually impaired lawyer, requested the court to direct the Centre to ensure that all government websites are made compliant with the guidelines for Indian government websites (GIGW), incorporating the WQC content accessibility guidelines within the time-frame.
He further contended that the authorities ought to have seen Chapter VIII of the Persons With Disabilities (equal opportunities, protection of rights and full participation) Act, which mandated the non-discrimination and removal of barriers in any form.
When the plea came up for hearing, a division bench of Justice Vineet Kothari and C V Karthikeyan directed the additional solicitor general to obtain instructions with regard to the 14 websites which included that of the UPSC and municipal corporations as to how they could also be upgraded to be user-friendly for the disabled.
The court then suo motu impleaded the secretary of state department of information and technology as a party-respondent to provide details on the official websites of state departments. The court posted the case to March 13 for further hearing.