No Proposal To Make Internet A Fundamental Right, Says Central Govt.

Minister of Communications and Law & Justice, Ravi Shankar Prasad was answering a question by MP Harish Dwivedi.

In a landmark judgment, the High Court of Kerala had recently held that right to access internet is a fundamental right forming part of right to privacy under Article 21 of the Constitution of India. The Court added that it also forms part of right to education. In the petitions filed before the Supreme Court challenging the lock down in Kashmir, one of the contentions adopted was that the Internet shut down in Kashmir region  is a grave violation of fundamental right to life. The Apex Court is expected to deliver the judgment on this issue shortly.

In 2016, the United Nations Human Rights Council had released a non-binding resolution condemning intentional disruption of internet access by governments.