Delhi High Court Notice to ICICI Bank
• ICICI Bank Faces PIL for Excluding Visually Impaired
• Sprouts SIT Flags ICICI’s Accessibility Lapses and Past Controversies
Unmesh Gujarathi
Sprouts News Exclusive
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The Delhi High Court has issued notice to ICICI Bank over alleged inaccessibility of its digital platforms for persons with disabilities. Petitioners claim that ICICI’s apps and websites violate accessibility norms, barring visually impaired users from essential banking tasks. Sprouts SIT notes this adds to ICICI’s list of past controversies.
The Delhi High Court on Tuesday issued a notice to ICICI Bank, the Union of India (through the Ministry of Finance and MeitY), and the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on a public interest litigation alleging that ICICI’s digital banking services fail to meet accessibility standards for persons with disabilities (PWDs).
The petition, filed by advocate Anchal Bhatheja and entrepreneur Rahul Jain, both of whom are visually impaired, argues that ICICI’s digital ecosystem—including the iMobile app, corporate InstaBIZ app, and official website—remains largely inaccessible to users with visual disabilities. This failure, the plea states, violates the rights guaranteed under the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016 and the constitutional principles of equality and dignity.
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ICICI’s Platforms Fail Basic Accessibility, Petitioners Argue
The petitioners allege that ICICI’s digital platforms consistently fail to comply with globally accepted Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG). The absence of screen-reader compatibility and alternative navigation features makes it impossible for blind and low-vision users to perform basic banking tasks like logging in, viewing statements, managing beneficiaries, or conducting two-factor authentication.
Given the growing reliance on digital platforms as the primary mode of banking access, this exclusion, the petition states, amounts to systemic discrimination. The plea seeks court orders directing ICICI to conduct a comprehensive accessibility audit, ensure that all future updates are compliant with accessibility standards, and develop a long-term inclusion roadmap. It also urges the RBI and central government to issue sector-wide directives for similar audits and reforms.
Sprouts SIT: ICICI Faces Scrutiny Over Repeated Controversies
The Sprouts News Investigation Team (SIT) notes that this is not the first time ICICI Bank has come under scrutiny. In recent years, the bank has been linked to several high-profile controversies. Most prominently, former CEO Chanda Kochhar was investigated by the CBI and ED for alleged quid pro quo loans involving the Videocon Group, raising questions about corporate governance and internal control failures.
In another instance, ICICI’s aggressive loan recovery methods came under fire when several customer complaints cited harassment, misrepresentation, and mental distress. In 2022, the RBI imposed monetary penalties on the bank for non-compliance with lending and KYC norms. Additionally, cybersecurity lapses and reports of data breaches have dented the bank’s digital trust credentials—ironic, given its heavy push toward digital transformation.
Sprouts SIT asserts that ICICI Bank’s latest controversy around digital accessibility reflects a larger pattern of neglecting regulatory, ethical, and social obligations, particularly toward vulnerable consumer segments.
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Court Seeks Systemic Reforms Across Banking Sector
Justice Vikas Mahajan of the Delhi High Court has now sought replies from the bank and relevant authorities. The matter is expected to trigger a wider conversation around digital inclusion in financial services, especially as public and private banks move toward mobile-first platforms.
The petitioners have also requested a sector-wide mandate, urging the RBI and MeitY to compel all banks to conduct accessibility audits and fix digital barriers for PWDs. The Sprouts News Investigation Team (SIT) will continue to monitor developments, as this case could set a precedent for financial inclusion policy in India’s digital banking landscape.
