Akshat Baldwa & ANR. v. Maddock Films Private Limited And ORS.

$~2 * IN THE HIGH COURT OF DELHI AT NEW DELHI + W.P.(C) 16802/2024 and CM APPLs.6363/2025, 10812/2025, 32463/2025 AKSHAT BALDWA & ANR.

.....Petitioners Through:

Mr. Amar Jain, Mr. Rahul Bajaj, Mr.

Amritesh Mishra and Ms. Sarah, Advs.

versus MADDOCK FILMS PRIVATE LIMITED AND ORS.....Respondents Through:

Mr.

Sandeep Kumar Mahapatra, CGSC, Ms. Mrinmayee Sahu and Mr.

Tribhuvan, Advs. for R-3.

Mr. Devvrat Joshi, Adv. for R-4.

Mr. Saikrishna Rajgopal, Ms. Sneha Jain and Mr. Angad S. Makkar, Advs.

for proposed R-8 / Netflix.

CORAM:

HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE SACHIN DATTA

O R D E R

% 16.10.2025 1.

A status report has been filed by the respondent no.3/Union of India in which it has been, inter-alia, stated as under: "13. It is stated that based on the analysis of legal provisions under the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016, consultation with selfregulatory bodies of OTT platforms, study of Guidelines for Accessibility Standards for Feature films and examination of international practices in terms of accessibility of content on OTT platforms, the answering Respondent has formulated the draft Guidelines for Accessibility of Content on platforms of publishers of Online Curated Content (OTT Platforms) for Persons with Hearing and Visual Impairment as per the provisions of RPwD Act, 2016 and has released these guidelines for public consultation with stakeholders and public before finalization of the guidelines.

A copy of the draft guidelines is annexed herein and marked as Annexure-R-3/E." The authenticity of the order can be re-verified from Delhi High Court Order Portal by scanning the QR code shown above.

2.

Learned counsel for the petitioner submits that there are certain infirmities / gaps in the guidelines which are required to be addressed. For this purpose, it is submitted that it is necessary for the respondent to have adequate consultation with all the stakeholders including the petitioners herein.

3.

It is assured by learned Standing Counsel appearing for the respondents that the suggestion / feedback of the petitioners, which may be given pursuant to the draft guidelines, shall be duly considered and taken into account before formulation of the final guidelines. 4.

It is further assured and undertaken that the final guidelines shall be issued within a period of three months from today. 5.

In view of the aforesaid, no further orders are required to be passed in the present petition. The same is, accordingly, disposed of. 6.

In case the petitioners' or any other stakeholder/s have any grievance with regard to the guidelines, as framed, they shall be at liberty to take appropriate legal remedies.

7.

Pending applications also stand disposed of.

SACHIN DATTA, J OCTOBER 16, 2025/cl The authenticity of the order can be re-verified from Delhi High Court Order Portal by scanning the QR code shown above. The Order is downloaded from the DHC Server on 25/10/2025 at 12:50:10