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India's Supreme Court Rules Access to WhatsApp Is Not a Fundamental Right

The court dismissed a doctor's plea over a blocked account, saying disputes with private platforms must go to regulatory or civil forums.

Overview

  • Rejecting the petition by Dr. Raman Kundra, a bench led by Justice Sanjiv Khanna held that services run by private entities like WhatsApp are not constitutionally guaranteed.
  • The court declined to treat the account suspension as a free speech violation and recorded permission to withdraw the case with liberty to seek other remedies.
  • During the hearing, the bench indicated users could switch to alternatives, referencing Zoho's Arattai messenger.
  • Arattai has recently climbed to the top of Indian app-store rankings, helped by official endorsements including from Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, according to local reports.
  • The petitioner argued she relied on WhatsApp for professional and personal communication, highlighting the dependence many users have on private messaging platforms.