Wed Apr 30 06:38:27 UTC 2025: ## Supreme Court Mandates Inclusive Digital Access as Fundamental Right
**NEW DELHI, April 30, 2025** – In a landmark ruling, the Supreme Court of India has declared inclusive digital access to e-governance and welfare services a fundamental right under Article 21 (right to life and liberty). The court’s decision, stemming from petitions highlighting the difficulties faced by disabled individuals, particularly in completing digital KYC processes, emphasizes the state’s obligation to bridge the digital divide.
The judgment, authored by Justice R. Mahadevan, noted that the inability of individuals with disabilities, such as acid attack survivors, to navigate visually-based digital KYC procedures effectively excludes them from essential services and government benefits. The court criticized the current system for further marginalizing vulnerable populations rather than integrating them.
To rectify this, the Supreme Court issued 20 directives to the government, mandating improvements to the digital KYC process to ensure accessibility for all. These directives address issues such as poor connectivity in rural areas, lack of regional language content, and inaccessible websites and applications.
The court emphasized that the principle of substantive equality necessitates inclusive and equitable digital transformation. It highlighted the unique barriers faced by persons with disabilities (PwD), senior citizens, economically weaker communities, and linguistic minorities in accessing online services. The ruling underscores that bridging the digital divide is not merely a policy choice but a constitutional imperative to guarantee a life of dignity and equal participation. The state’s responsibility, the court ruled, extends to making digital infrastructure, government portals, and online platforms universally accessible to all citizens, regardless of their background or abilities.
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