'No Fundamental Right To Use WhatsApp': Supreme Court Rejects Plea To Restore Blocked Account; Suggests Use Of 'Arattai'

The Supreme Court today refused to entertain a writ petition seeking restoration of access to a person's blocked WhatsApp account as well as guidelines on the suspension/blocking of accounts by social media intermediaries.

A bench of Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta dismissed the matter as withdrawn, after hearing Senior Advocate Mahalakshmi Pavani (for petitioners). The bench however gave the petitioners liberty to avail all such remedies as may be available under law.

During the hearing, the bench questioned Pavani about the maintainability of an Article 32 petition for the reliefs sought and suggested that the petitioner may rather file a civil suit.

"What is your fundamental right to have access to WhatsApp?", Justice Mehta asked Pavani. In response, the senior counsel said that the petitioner, working at a poly-diagnostic centre, had been using WhatsApp since past 10-12 years and communicating with his clients through it. But suddenly his access has been blocked.

"There are other communication applications, you can use them. Recently, there's this indigenous app called Arattai...use that. Make In India!", remarked Justice Mehta. Arattai is an instant messaging app developed by Indian company Zoho Corporation.

When Justice Nath asked why the petitioner's WhatsApp account has been blocked, Pavani replied that they have not been given any reason. The judge then asked that the petitioner approach the High Court. At this point, Pavani highlighted that the issue is a pan-India one and therefore the petitioner is also seeking guidelines governing the power of social media intermediaries' blocking/suspension of people's accounts, "ensuring due process, transparency and proportionality".

"Without giving me any opportunity, they have just blocked it. Everything has come to a standstill", Pavani urged. "Is the respondent-intermediary a State?" Justice Mehta posed to Pavani at this juncture. The senior counsel replied, "I would not call it a State".

Therefore, Justice Mehta said, a writ petition by the petitioner would not be maintainable before the High Court either. The judge reiterated Justice Nath's suggestion that the petitioner may file a civil suit. Lastly, Pavani beseeched the Court to ask Whatsapp to grant the petitioner access to his account. However, the bench refused to pass any such order. 

Case Title: DR. RAMAN KUNDRA AND ANR. Versus WHATSAPP LLC/ META PLATFORM AND ORS., W.P.(C) No. 932/2025 

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