In a landmark ruling, the Supreme Court on Wednesday declared that digital access constitutes a fundamental right, forming an essential part of the right to life under Article 21 of the Constitution. The judgment emphasized the urgent need to make digital services, including banking and e-governance, accessible to all—particularly to persons with disabilities, such as acid attack survivors and individuals with visual impairments.
A bench comprising Justices JB Pardiwala and R Mahadevan issued 20 directives aimed at reforming the electronic Know Your Customer (e-KYC) process to ensure greater inclusivity. While the full judgment is yet to be uploaded, the court made clear that the digital divide now represents a constitutional challenge that must be addressed by the state.
“In the contemporary era, access is largely through digital processes. Breaching the digital divide is now a constitutional imperative... The right to digital access is an intrinsic component of the right to life under Article 21,” the court stated.
The ruling came in response to petitions seeking revised e-KYC guidelines for acid attack survivors with severe facial disfigurements. One such case involved a woman who was denied a bank account in 2023 because she was unable to complete the RBI-mandate.
