Supreme Court rules websites must provide alt text for visually impaired users

The Supreme Court ruled that websites must provide alternative text for non-text content to ensure accessibility for visually impaired users under the Anti-Discrimination and Remedy etc. for Persons with Disabilities Act.

In a decision issued March 12, the high court stated that guaranteeing access requires providing descriptive text that allows screen reader users to recognize the meaning or purpose of images and other non-text elements. The ruling clarifies that the legal definition of an accessible website inherently includes these specific technical accommodations even if the statute does not list them explicitly.

The court determined that a failure to provide specific conveniences can constitute indirect discrimination. Judges noted that excluding these scenarios would contradict the legislative intent to effectively remedy rights violations and realize equal participation for persons with disabilities.

When assessing whether a defendant has a valid reason for not complying due to excessive burden, the court said financial costs alone are insufficient grounds for exemption. Parties must make every possible effort to fulfill their obligations unless doing so creates clearly difficult circumstances beyond mere monetary expense.

The justices instructed lower courts to broadly consider ordering affirmative action remedies while balancing public and private interests through the principle of proportionality. In cases imposing financial burdens on private defendants, judges must weigh factors such as the entity's fiscal condition, available government subsidies and the existence of less costly alternative means to achieve compliance.