Supreme Court says children have a fundamental right to access and use the internet; a court panel opens a complaints portal on July violence
The Supreme Court held that the right to access and use the internet is a fundamental right of every individual, including children, according to two outlets on Saturday, October 17. The court said children did not stop using the internet merely because a law prohibits it. A panel appointed by the Supreme Court launched a portal at hpec.nic.in for complaints and evidence on the July violence at Jantar Mantar. The Ministry of Home Affairs said priority will go to matters on pellet guns and targeted violence. The portal is open to affected people, including police personnel. Two outlets carried each of the two reports.
A fundamental right to the internet changes the question for schools, platforms and lawmakers from whether children may go online to how far a rule may restrict them. Protesters and police personnel hurt in July have a defined place to file their accounts for the first time, which creates a record the court can examine.
If you were at Jantar Mantar in July, keep photographs, medical papers and messages ready before you file on the portal. Parents should wait for the full judgment before changing any household rule.
A right to the internet is only as clear as the judgment that explains it.
DailyDrop India edition No. 14 · Morning · SUN., OCT. 18, 2026