New Delhi: The Delhi High Court has issued a strict ultimatum to app-based transport aggregator Rapido, demanding that it enhance accessibility for disabled users within four months or cease operations in India. The court’s order comes in response to a petition filed by two visually impaired individuals, highlighting serious accessibility issues within the Rapido app.

An internal accessibility audit of the Rapido platform uncovered 170 errors at the base level of WCAG Level A standards, along with 81 major failures that severely impact the usability of the app for disabled individuals. The court strongly questioned how the company was allowed to operate without ensuring compliance with accessibility laws.

The Joint Secretary of the Road and Transport Ministry has been directed to provide an explanation regarding the regulatory oversight and ensure that transport apps undergo accessibility checks before being launched. He has been asked to appear before the court on the next hearing date to present the steps being taken to address this issue.

Rahul Bajaj, the legal representative for the petitioners, pointed out that Rapido had only provided an accessibility audit report a day before the hearing, which itself highlighted critical flaws in the app’s usability for disabled users. The court took serious note of this and firmly stated that the company must either rectify these issues or “pack up” from India.

In its defense, Rapido claimed to be a small startup lacking sufficient funds to implement accessibility improvements. However, the court dismissed this argument, emphasizing that legal compliance cannot be ignored.

With just four months to address these concerns, Rapido faces a tough challenge. Failure to comply with the court’s directive could result in a complete ban on its operations in India. The outcome of this case could also set a precedent for other transport aggregators, ensuring better accessibility for disabled individuals in the country.