To,
The Chairman Central Board of Direct Taxes North Block, New Delhi-110002 Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman Hon’ble Finance Minister 15, Safdarjung Road, New Delhi 110029 Mr.Salil Parekh CEO Infosys Ltd Plot no. 44/97 A, 3rd cross, Electronic City, Hosur Road, Bengaluru – 560100 Chief Commissioner of Persons with Disabilities, Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Sarojini House, 6, Bhagwandas Road, New Delhi 110001 Ms. Tarika Roy Joint Secretary Department of Empowerment of persons with Disabilities Ministry Of Social Justice and Empowerment Government of India Paryavaran Bhawan, B-II Block, 5th Floor, Lodhi Road, CGO Complex, New Delhi, 110003 Department of Financial Services Ministry of Finance 3rd Floor, Jeevan Deep Building Sansad Marg New Delhi-110001 Dear Sir/Madam, *Subject: Inaccessibility of the new Income tax e-filing portal* I am writing to you on behalf of myself and the visually impaired community in India and I would like to draw your attention to the fact that the Income Tax e- filing portal has become inaccessible. The website until recently was fully accessible i.e. a person with visual disability could file their own Income Tax Returns, check status etc. They did not need to depend on others. However the website is badly designed and executed and the Visually Impaired have lost their privacy and their independence. The visually impaired independently operate computers and mobile phones with the assistance of a screen reader which is a software that reads aloud the contents on the screen using voice synthesised speech. However, the current Income Tax e-filing portal cannot be accessed using the aforementioned screen reading software. Some of the issues that we are facing include: 1. Post login, the screen reader is unable to interact with the DOM meaningfully, which is why the navigation elements are not presented properly. 2. Menus and Submenus are not semantically marked up so the screen reader does not indicate them as such. 3. Structure of the website is missing therefore headings, paragraphs etc are not visible to the screen reader. This is a gross violation of the Rights of Persons With Disabilities Act, 2016, the rules made thereunder namely; the Rights of Persons With Disabilities Rules, 2017 and the standards on accessibility of information, communication and technologies prescribed thereunder namely; Guidelines for Indian Government Websites (Revised edition, includes Apps), 2018. Please take this matter up urgently so that the visually impaired tax payers do not miss out on the impending deadline. I look forward to your immediate action failing which I will be constrained to take legal action against you for the violation of our fundamental and statutory rights. Yours faithfully Kanchan Pamnani Advocate and Solicitor On Thu, Oct 21, 2021 at 8:05 AM BHAWANI SHANKAR VERMA <bsvermad...@gmail.com> wrote: > right madam! I am available if any assistance as and when require. I am > not having technical knowledge on web designing. but, at the user's end I > can assist. > Yes, finally we have won the battle against IRCTC and they have come up > with OTP for blind users. I always acknowledge Mr. Vashishtha's help in the > matter. > Most of accessindians are well setteled and earning more than bread and > butter. we can all contribute if any legal battle is needed to have a > consolidated order on accessibility for websites. > > > ----- Original Message ----- > *From:* Kanchan Pamnani <kanchanpamn...@gmail.com> > *To:* accessindia@accessindia.org.in > *Sent:* Wednesday, October 20, 2021 7:55 PM > *Subject:* RE: [AI] INCOME TAX E-FILING PORTAL HAS NOW BECOME INACCESSIBLE > > I have sent the email notice and will send hardcopies tomorrow. I will > paste what I have written so the rest of you can do the needful. > > I hope atleast 10 people follow my lead. > > Will also get 10 NGOs to do something. > > Hands are tied and cannot go to Court for this as I have filed one on > physical accessibility and we are filing one against MCA and also against > Paytm > > If anyone wants to help we can do something quickly. > > Bhiwani-My office has been helping Turab to issue Notices to many on > webaccessibility. I don’t care about the big NGOs as I am not one. I can > suggest that we should fight our own battles. I remember that you had > started against the railway bookings and the big NGOs took it over. > > Kanchan > > > > *From:* accessindia@accessindia.org.in [mailto: > accessindia@accessindia.org.in] *On Behalf Of *Vikas Kapoor > *Sent:* 20 October 2021 18:41 > *To:* accessindia@accessindia.org.in > *Subject:* RE: [AI] INCOME TAX E-FILING PORTAL HAS NOW BECOME INACCESSIBLE > > > > 1. The site is not at all accessible using the virtual cursor, it is > partially accessible by turning the virtual cursor off but not every job > can be performed without the virtual cursor. > 2. Even when the site was fairly accessible about a few months back, > some of the things, like, logout button, selecting the assessment year, > could not be located easily and one had to play around with > increasing/decreasing the zoom on the webpage. > 3. It is not possible all the time to locate the login link on the > main website. > 4. Some of the items on the pre-logging page keep refreshing so fast > that one has to put such a hard work to be able to locate them, finding > items has really turned out to be equivalent to playing a mindful game! > > *Thanks Kanchan and others.* > > > > *From:* accessindia@accessindia.org.in <accessindia@accessindia.org.in> *On > Behalf Of *Kanchan Pamnani > *Sent:* Wednesday, October 20, 2021 1:08 PM > *To:* accessindia@accessindia.org.in > *Subject:* RE: [AI] INCOME TAX E-FILING PORTAL HAS NOW BECOME INACCESSIBLE > > > > Urgent > > I am sending the Notice today. Please help me with points on how the site > is not accessible. Give as much detail as possible in point form. > > Every time Infy handles a website-it becomes inaccessible. > > Kanchan > > *From:* accessindia@accessindia.org.in [ > mailto:accessindia@accessindia.org.in <accessindia@accessindia.org.in>] *On > Behalf Of *Jeegar Pithava > *Sent:* 20 October 2021 09:14 > *To:* accessindia@accessindia.org.in; BHAWANI SHANKAR VERMA > *Subject:* Re: [AI] INCOME TAX E-FILING PORTAL HAS NOW BECOME INACCESSIBLE > > > > Yes sir we need to do something collectively in order to make site > accessible, I am ready if we can do any concrete action, however, still > don't know from where to start > From my side I have llodged grievances and given feedbacks to the site > but no response. . > > On October 20, 2021 8:12:24 AM "BHAWANI SHANKAR VERMA" < > bsvermad...@gmail.com> wrote: > > Hello accessindia, > > > > The new portal of incometax e-filing website has now become inaccessible. > it is accessible till login page upto filling USER ID and Password. > Afterwards in virtual cursore it is completely inaccessible and on pc > cursore only links and buttons are to be spoken. > > It is very unfortunate that Leading NGOs in big cities are not at all > interested on website accessibility and also we are individually taking no > interest to start joint movement. Just we are writing mails in the group > and sometimes file a petition on change.org which is no purpose to us. > > > > > > -- > Disclaimer: > 1. Contents of the mails, factual, or otherwise, reflect the thinking of > the person sending the mail and AI in no way relates itself to its veracity; > > 2. AI cannot be held liable for any commission/omission based on the mails > sent through this mailing list.. > > > Search for old postings at: > http://www.mail-archive.com/accessindia@accessindia.org.in/ > --- > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups > "AccessIndia" group. > To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an > email to accessindia+unsubscr...@accessindia.org.in. > To view this discussion on the web visit > https://groups.google.com/a/accessindia.org.in/d/msgid/accessindia/000601d7c55c%2419ef5f60%24582ba8c0%40challenger > <https://groups.google.com/a/accessindia.org.in/d/msgid/accessindia/000601d7c55c%2419ef5f60%24582ba8c0%40challenger?utm_medium=email&utm_source=footer> > . > > -- > Disclaimer: > 1. Contents of the mails, factual, or otherwise, reflect the thinking of > the person sending the mail and AI in no way relates itself to its veracity; > > 2. AI cannot be held liable for any commission/omission based on the mails > sent through this mailing list.. > > > Search for old postings at: > http://www.mail-archive.com/accessindia@accessindia.org.in/ > --- > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups > "AccessIndia" group. > To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an > email to accessindia+unsubscr...@accessindia.org.in. > To view this discussion on the web visit > https://groups.google.com/a/accessindia.org.in/d/msgid/accessindia/17c9bcc4520.2824.5d24f892a741dfaf746b4e570ce6fd16%40gmail.com > <https://groups.google.com/a/accessindia.org.in/d/msgid/accessindia/17c9bcc4520.2824.5d24f892a741dfaf746b4e570ce6fd16%40gmail.com?utm_medium=email&utm_source=footer> > . > > > ------------------------------ > > [image: Image removed by sender. AVG logo] > <https://www.avg.com/internet-security> > > This email has been checked for viruses by AVG antivirus software. > www.avg.com <https://www.avg.com/internet-security> > > > > -- > Disclaimer: > 1. Contents of the mails, factual, or otherwise, reflect the thinking of > the person sending the mail and AI in no way relates itself to its veracity; > > 2. AI cannot be held liable for any commission/omission based on the mails > sent through this mailing list.. > > > Search for old postings at: > http://www.mail-archive.com/accessindia@accessindia.org.in/ > --- > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups > "AccessIndia" group. > To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an > email to accessindia+unsubscr...@accessindia.org.in. > To view this discussion on the web visit > https://groups.google.com/a/accessindia.org.in/d/msgid/accessindia/016201d7c585%247be5d0e0%2473b172a0%24%40gmail.com > <https://groups.google.com/a/accessindia.org.in/d/msgid/accessindia/016201d7c585%247be5d0e0%2473b172a0%24%40gmail.com?utm_medium=email&utm_source=footer> > . > > -- > Disclaimer: > 1. Contents of the mails, factual, or otherwise, reflect the thinking of > the person sending the mail and AI in no way relates itself to its veracity; > > 2. AI cannot be held liable for any commission/omission based on the mails > sent through this mailing list.. > > > Search for old postings at: > http://www.mail-archive.com/accessindia@accessindia.org.in/ > --- > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups > "AccessIndia" group. > To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an > email to accessindia+unsubscr...@accessindia.org.in. > To view this discussion on the web visit > https://groups.google.com/a/accessindia.org.in/d/msgid/accessindia/000c01d7c5b3%24e4e1a550%24aea4eff0%24%40gmail.com > <https://groups.google.com/a/accessindia.org.in/d/msgid/accessindia/000c01d7c5b3%24e4e1a550%24aea4eff0%24%40gmail.com?utm_medium=email&utm_source=footer> > . > > -- > Disclaimer: > 1. Contents of the mails, factual, or otherwise, reflect the thinking of > the person sending the mail and AI in no way relates itself to its veracity; > > 2. AI cannot be held liable for any commission/omission based on the mails > sent through this mailing list.. > > > Search for old postings at: > http://www.mail-archive.com/accessindia@accessindia.org.in/ > --- > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups > "AccessIndia" group. > To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an > email to accessindia+unsubscr...@accessindia.org.in. > To view this discussion on the web visit > https://groups.google.com/a/accessindia.org.in/d/msgid/accessindia/024a01d7c5be%24503de250%24f0b9a6f0%24%40gmail.com > <https://groups.google.com/a/accessindia.org.in/d/msgid/accessindia/024a01d7c5be%24503de250%24f0b9a6f0%24%40gmail.com?utm_medium=email&utm_source=footer> > . > > -- > Disclaimer: > 1. Contents of the mails, factual, or otherwise, reflect the thinking of > the person sending the mail and AI in no way relates itself to its veracity; > > 2. AI cannot be held liable for any commission/omission based on the mails > sent through this mailing list.. > > > Search for old postings at: > http://www.mail-archive.com/accessindia@accessindia.org.in/ > --- > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups > "AccessIndia" group. > To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an > email to accessindia+unsubscr...@accessindia.org.in. > To view this discussion on the web visit > https://groups.google.com/a/accessindia.org.in/d/msgid/accessindia/000901d7c624%243abac540%24582ba8c0%40challenger > <https://groups.google.com/a/accessindia.org.in/d/msgid/accessindia/000901d7c624%243abac540%24582ba8c0%40challenger?utm_medium=email&utm_source=footer> > . > -- Disclaimer: 1. Contents of the mails, factual, or otherwise, reflect the thinking of the person sending the mail and AI in no way relates itself to its veracity; 2. AI cannot be held liable for any commission/omission based on the mails sent through this mailing list.. Search for old postings at: http://www.mail-archive.com/accessindia@accessindia.org.in/ --- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "AccessIndia" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to accessindia+unsubscr...@accessindia.org.in. To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/a/accessindia.org.in/d/msgid/accessindia/CADetga_23Nkde9M4sLoNj6SssX%2B0aN%3Dmh5AcBw-AUVnKguFq4g%40mail.gmail.com.
