Digital access part of fundamental right to life and liberty, says SC
Ruling that right to digital access is an intrinsic part of the
fundamental right to life and liberty
, Supreme Court on Wednesday said it is a constitutional imperative for the Centre and its authorities to bridge the digital divide faced by large sections of the country's rural population, senior citizens, economically weaker communities, linguistic minorities and differently-abled persons.
SC passed a slew of directions to revise the current KYC process for visually- and hearing-impaired users, and to develop alternative formats — including Braille and voice-enabled services — to ensure accessibility for all, reports Amit Anand Choudhary.
'At this juncture, we may also wish to observe that in the contemporary era, where access to essential services, governance, education, healthcare and economic opportunities is increasingly mediated through digital platforms, the right to life under Article 21 of the Constitution must be reinterpreted in light of these technological realities. The digital divide — characterised by unequal access to digital infrastructure, skills, and content — continues to perpetuate systemic exclusion, not only of persons with disabilities, but also of large sections of rural populations, senior citizens, economically weaker communities, and linguistic minorities. The principle of substantive equality demands that digital transformation be both inclusive and equitable,' Supreme Court said.
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