Internet access and COVID-19
A constitutional argument to right to internet access in India
Keywords:
internet shutdown, internet access, freedom speech, expression, human rightAbstract
With the rapid development in the technology, there has been a greater dependence on the digital information which led to the increase in the communication technology. Further. with the greater dependence there requires a certain understanding of legal and human rights status for internet access as there is astonishing increase in the number of users of the internet. Recently in the case of Faheema Sharini V. State of Kerala, the Hon’ble High Court of Kerala opined that the ‘right to internet access’ should also be a part of Article 21 of the Constitution of India, forming a part of the right to privacy and the right to education. Despite India being considered as one of the largest democracies but the recent internet shutdowns depict a different picture altogether. For instance, the Government while exercising its powers under Section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973, brought the Kashmir valley under complete internet shut down for a period of 5 (five) months.
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