In a significant judgment, the Supreme Court of India has declared that access to private messaging platforms such as WhatsApp cannot be considered a fundamental right under the Constitution. The verdict came after a petition by Dr. Raman Kundra, a medical practitioner, whose WhatsApp account had been blocked. She argued that the ban violated her right to communication and affected her professional duties.
However, the bench led by Justice Sanjiv Khanna dismissed the plea, emphasizing that WhatsApp is a private entity and operates under its own terms and conditions. The court stated that users must comply with a platform’s policies and cannot claim constitutional protection for private services.
Court Suggests Using Alternative Indian Platforms
While rejecting the petition, the Supreme Court suggested that the petitioner could explore other messaging services such as Zoho’s Arattai app — a homegrown alternative. “You can use Arattai,” remarked the bench, hinting at India’s growing digital independence and the government’s broader push toward indigenous tech solutions.
The court further clarified that claims regarding alleged violations of free speech or data misuse by private platforms must be addressed through appropriate civil or regulatory forums, not constitutional petitions.
Arattai: India’s Swadeshi Answer to WhatsApp
Following the verdict, interest in Zoho’s Arattai app has surged once again. Launched in 2021 by the Tamil Nadu–based tech firm Zoho, Arattai — which means “chat” in Tamil — has positioned itself as a “spyware-free, made-in-India” messaging platform.
In recent months, Arattai has climbed India’s app store charts, briefly overtaking WhatsApp, Telegram, and Signal. The rise was fueled by increasing concerns around data privacy, AI surveillance, and foreign tech dependency.
The app offers features similar to global counterparts, including:
- One-to-one and group chats with media sharing
- Encrypted audio and video calls
- Multi-device sync including desktop and Android TV apps
- Channels and stories for broadcasting updates
A Step Toward Digital Sovereignty
The ruling marks a clear message — while digital communication is essential, it remains bound by private policies and not constitutional entitlement. At the same time, the court’s nod to indigenous tools like Arattai highlights India’s ongoing journey toward digital sovereignty and self-reliance in technology.
