Latest news with #RahulBajaj
The Hindu
19-05-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Delhi HC directs Centre to expedite guidelines on accessibility in OTT media
The Delhi High Court on Monday (May 19, 2025) directed the Centre to speed up the process of issuing guidelines for incorporating accessibility features on Over-The-Top (OTT) platforms for persons with disabilities (PwDs). The court issued the order while hearing a plea that sought the inclusion of accessibility features—such as audio description, same-language captioning, and Indian Sign Language—on OTT platforms for individuals who are visually or hearing impaired. The court also ordered Over-The-Top (OTT) platforms and film producers to ensure that accessibility features, such as audio description and same-language captioning, are incorporated into a set of specified films released on their platforms. This order would apply to films such as The Buckingham Murders, Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3, Shaitan, and Article 370. Advocate Rahul Bajaj, appearing for the petitioner Mr. Akshat Baldwa, argued that although some films have now incorporated accessibility features, producers must ensure these features are included at the time of their release. Mr. Bajaj had earlier argued that the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act places an obligation on the government to ensure that all content available in electronic media is in an accessible format. He said the principle of reasonable accommodation requires that necessary and appropriate modifications are made to ensure that persons with disabilities enjoy their rights equally with others. The court will hear the case again on July 17.
Mint
02-05-2025
- Business
- Mint
Shareholding moves in Q4: Investors' verdict on India's conglomerates
As markets whipsawed from February's depths to March's resurgence, India's mightiest business empires—from Tata to Birla faced a high-stakes showdown. While the Nifty 50 clawed back to flat (by the fiscal year end), a Mint analysis of the country's leading business houses—Tata, Reliance, Adani, Rahul Bajaj, and Aditya Birla—with a fifth of India's market capitalization, unveiled a striking divergence: overseas and small investors retreated, while local institutional investors doubled down on select bets, hinting at a fascinating long-term focus. India's most valuable conglomerate, the ₹ 27.5 trillion Tata group, saw a dramatic reshuffle in its investor ownership. Foreign portfolio investors (FPIs) and retail shareholders slashed their stakes in key companies like TCS, Tata Motors , Tata Power , and Tata Steel, sequentially pruning their holdings in over 60% of the group companies. Yet, domestic mutual funds (MFs) stepped in aggressively, raising ownership in around 52% of the groups' firms. However, despite this institutional support, the group's market cap fell by 11%, the worst among its peers. Also read Shareholding moves in Q4: Retail investors jump ship in choppy waters In Mukesh Ambani-led Reliance group companies, FPIs and retail investors reduced their holdings in around 60%, including companies like Reliance Industries (RIL), Just Dial, and Sterling & Wilson. However, domestic investors absorbed the shock, increasing their stakes in RIL, Jio Financial, and other units. This resilience helped Reliance eke out a modest 1% gain, narrowly avoiding the fate of its struggling rivals. The Adani group bore the brunt of the quarter's sell-off, with FPIs cutting exposure in 50% and retail investors fleeing even faster (67%) in the group companies. Flagship Adani Enterprises , along with Adani Ports, Adani Green, and Ambuja Cement, saw a reduction in their stakes. Yet, domestic institutions again saw an opportunity, raising their stakes in Adani Green, Adani Power , and Ambuja Cement—a sign that some remain bullish on the group's long-term infrastructure bets. Still, the group's market cap fell 5.6%, reflecting lingering scepticism. While FPIs and retail investors reduced their holdings in the Rahul Bajaj group by reducing their stakes in 40% and 50% of the group firms, respectively, the conglomerate emerged as the quarter's biggest winner. Bajaj Finance , which makes up 44% of the group's value, remained a magnet for foreign investors. Strong performances from Bajaj Finserv, Bajaj Auto, and Bajaj Consumer helped the group surge 17%—far outpacing its peers. Also read Shareholding moves in Q4: Retail investors chased beaten down stocks FPIs and retail investors pulled back sharply from the Aditya Birla Group, trimming stakes in 63% of the group, including UltraTech Cement, Hindalco, and Grasim. But domestic mutual funds held firm, increasing overall ownership in 50%. This support helped the group post a 4% gain, proving that local confidence can counterbalance global jitters. This is the third part of a series of data stories on the latest shareholding pattern. Read the first and second parts here.
New Indian Express
24-04-2025
- Business
- New Indian Express
Delhi HC notice to Swiggy, Zepto over inaccessibility for persons with disabilities
NEW DELHI: The Delhi High Court has taken up a plea alleging that food and grocery delivery apps Swiggy and Zepto continue to exclude persons with disabilities (PwDs), particularly the visually impaired, from independently accessing their platforms. Justice Sachin Datta, on Wednesday, issued notices to both companies as well as to the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), seeking their responses by May 28. The court's order came while hearing a petition filed by Mission Accessibility, an NGO working to uphold the digital rights of the disabled. The petition accuses Swiggy and Zepto of violating fundamental rights guaranteed under Articles 14, 19, and 21 of the Constitution. It also cites multiple breaches of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016, and the corresponding Rules notified in 2017. Rahul Bajaj and Amar Jain, lawyers who themselves live with visual impairments, appeared in person to argue the case. They described how basic functions on these apps—such as searching for items, reading product information, and navigating the user interface—remain inaccessible to those reliant on screen reading software. They pointed out that although the RPwD Rules had set a 2019 deadline for making digital services fully accessible, both Swiggy and Zepto have continued to launch and update their services without ensuring screen reader compatibility. The petition details numerous shortcomings: icons without proper labels, critical product data missing from descriptions, and a lack of audio-guided prompts for actions like returning orders. The result, it argues, is a deeply exclusionary digital experience that strips disabled individuals of their independence and forces them to depend on others for essential tasks. Under Sections 40 and 46 of the RPwD Act and Rule 15 of the 2017 Rules, digital service providers are legally bound to adhere to prescribed accessibility standards. Swiggy and Zepto, the plea asserts, have failed to meet these obligations. The petition further urges the Court to direct MeitY to exercise its enforcement powers under the RPwD Act, including invoking the penalty provisions laid down in Sections 89 and 90 against non-compliant companies. Petitioner in the case requested court to Order a comprehensive accessibility audit by accredited government auditor Mandate a time-bound roadmap to correct present accessibility flaws Ensure long-term compliance with BIS IS 17802 standards, the national digital accessibility framework Introduce compulsory sensitisation training for developers and customer service staff Make return and refund procedures accessible to visually impaired users
