The Supreme Court today ruled that the Internet is a part of Article 19 fundamental right to free speech. In a petition moved by ex Bigg Boss celebrity contestant Tehseen Poonawalla amongst the other petitioners challenging the Internet shutdown in Jammu & Kashmir after the August 5th removal of Article 370, the Supreme Court ruled that the Internet cannot be arbitrary shut down by the government. Supreme Court Order on Jammu and Kashmir a Big Jolt to Narendra Modi Govt’s Illegal Activities: Congress

Tehseen Poonawala, an ex Bigg Boss 13 Contestant was the first to move to the Supreme Court on August 12th against the shutdown of the Internet in Jammu & Kashmir. Tehseen’s petition argued that the right to free speech included the right to internet also included the right to life because a lot of people dependent upon doing business upon the Internet, and without internet, how would they generate OTPs and also most insurance and health schemes were connected to the internet as well as exam free structures. 'PM Narendra Modi's Clothes Remark Aimed at Demonising Muslims and Assam Citizens'; Activist Tehseen Poonawalla Files Complaint With EC

Payments were to be made via the internet and the internet cannot be arbitrary shut down in a country this way. The Supreme Court, while agreeing with his petition has asked the government to produce all orders within seven days via the internet to shut down. How long will the internet be shut down, asked the government to review all internet shut down and to immediately start essential sites?

This is a massive, massive victory for the Ex-Bigg Boss contestant Tehseen Poonawala and it's a fundamental victory for the people of India who are today celebrating the internet becoming a fundamental right to free speech.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jan 10, 2020 09:29 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).