The plea calls for the formulation of guidelines to make digital KYC, e-KYC, and video KYC processes more accessible
GUWAHATI: The Supreme Court of India on Tuesday, January 21 issued a notice to concerned authorities seeking guidelines to ensure accessible digital Know Your Customer (KYC) and e-KYC processes for persons with blindness or low vision. The petition seeks to make the KYC process inclusive and provide reasonable accommodations for accessing financial, telecom services, and government schemes for persons with disabilities.
ALSO READ: Gridlocks Near Guwahati's Bharalumukh Railway Gates Leave Residents Frustrated
The petition was filed by Advocate Amar Jain, who is 100% blind, and highlights the challenges faced by individuals with disabilities during the digital KYC process. Current methods, which include taking selfies, signing on paper or using a mouse on screen, scanning or photographing filled forms, and managing extremely short OTP durations, are largely inaccessible for persons with disabilities. These practices, according to the petitioner, violate the provisions of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016, and the Constitution of India.
The bench, comprising Justices J.B. Pardiwala and R. Mahadevan also issued a notice on this matter and clubbed the case with another ongoing petition. The petition also seeks inclusive KYC guidelines, specifically for acid attack survivors and individuals with permanent eye damage.
The petitioners have requested the central authorities to frame appropriate guidelines offering alternative methods for conducting digital KYC and e-KYC processes for acid attack survivors who face challenges due to eye burns or disfigurement. The petition also asks the government to clarify the term "live photograph," as referenced in the Reserve Bank of India's (RBI) KYC Master Directions, 2016, and to provide suitable alternatives to accommodate the difficulties faced by acid attack survivors and other disabled individuals.