New Delhi: In a historic ruling on Wednesday, the Supreme Court of India declared that digital access is a fundamental right protected by the Constitution under Article 21. The landmark judgment was delivered by a bench comprising Justices J.B. Pardiwala and R. Mahadevan.
The court directed the revision of digital Know-Your-Customer (KYC) norms to ensure that individuals with facial disfigurements from acid attacks or those with visual impairments can easily access banking and e-governance services. This significant move aims to promote inclusivity in the digital space.
As reported by Live Law, the bench emphasized that the State must guarantee digital accessibility for everyone, including marginalized groups and people residing in rural areas.
The judges highlighted the importance of creating an inclusive digital ecosystem and bridging the digital divide. They stressed that citizens must be able to access government welfare schemes and essential services online.
“At this juncture, we wish to observe that in the contemporary era, where access to essential services, governance, education, health care, and economic opportunities are increasingly mediated through digital platforms, the right to life under Article 21 of the Constitution must be re-interpreted in light of these technological realities,” the bench noted.
The Supreme Court also pointed out the ongoing challenges posed by the digital divide, which continues to exclude persons with disabilities, senior citizens, economically weaker communities, and rural populations.
“The digital divide, characterised by unequal access to digital infrastructure, skills and content, continues to perpetuate systematic exclusion not only of persons with disabilities but also of large sections of rural populations, senior citizens, economically weaker communities and linguistic minorities,” the apex court added.
