Policy · Commerce & Consumer Brands

Delhi HC issues notice to Swiggy, Zepto over accessibility

By Startup Enthusiast · 23 April 2025

What they do

Swiggy and Zepto run food delivery and quick commerce apps

Delhi High Court issued notice on a plea alleging their apps are inaccessible to visually impaired users

The petition argues the apps violate the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016

The Delhi High Court issued notice to Swiggy, Zepto, and the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology on a plea by NGO Mission Accessibility.
The bench of Justice Sachin Datta scheduled the next hearing for May 28.
The petition alleges that Swiggy and Zepto apps are inaccessible to persons with visual disabilities.
The apps lack accessible features, interactive elements, and essential product details for visually impaired users.
On the Swiggy app, the search icon on the main page is inaccessible, forcing reliance on voice search.
The Swiggy Instamart section has no regular or voice search, making product discovery impossible.
The Zepto app's search box is completely unresponsive, and the payment option is inaccessible.
The petition seeks a court direction for the companies to submit an accessibility audit report from a government-empanelled auditor.

The petition says the apps violate fundamental rights under Articles 14, 19, and 21 of the Constitution.
It also alleges violation of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016, which mandates accessibility by 2019.
The petition argues the platforms have denied equal access to food delivery, grocery shopping, and restaurant reservations, violating the dignity of persons with disabilities.
The court directed Swiggy, Zepto, and MeitY to file responses within four weeks.

Swiggy is a food delivery and quick commerce platform operating across India.
It offers services including restaurant food delivery, grocery delivery via Instamart, and dine-out reservations via DineOut.
Swiggy generates revenue through commissions from restaurants, delivery fees, and advertising.
Zepto is a quick commerce platform delivering groceries and essentials in minutes.
Zepto operates through its Indian entity Kiranakart Technologies Private Limited.
Both companies serve millions of users across major Indian cities.

Swiggy, Zepto, and MeitY must file their responses within four weeks.
The court will hear the matter next on May 28.
The petition seeks a long-term strategy from the companies to ensure future updates remain accessible.