The Evolution and Protection of Privacy as a Fundamental Right in India: Constitutional Milestones, Judicial Interpretations, and Contemporary Challenges

Authors

Kirtika Sahu Research Scholar Department of Law CSJM University, Kanpur, U.P.
Dr. Rakesh Kumar Pandey Professor, Department of Law CSJM University, Kanpur, U.P.

DOI:

Keywords:

Privacy, India, Article 21, Puttaswamy judgment, data protection, digital surveillance, Personal Data Protection Bill

Abstract

The constitutional recognition of privacy in India has undergone a significant transformation, evolving from implicit acknowledgments within Article 21 to explicit validation through landmark judicial pronouncements. This review traces the constitutional journey of privacy in India, highlighting key judicial interpretations, legislative actions, and the interplay with societal norms. It examines the pivotal Supreme Court judgment in Justice K.S. Puttaswamy (Retd.) vs. Union of India (2017), which solidified privacy as a fundamental right, and explores subsequent legal and legislative developments. The review also addresses contemporary challenges posed by technological advancements, digital surveillance, and data protection, emphasizing the need for adaptive legal frameworks and robust enforcement mechanisms. By analyzing the dynamic interaction between the judiciary, legislature, and societal changes, this paper underscores the ongoing efforts and future directions necessary to uphold privacy as a cornerstone of personal liberty in India.

References

Ibid

Mohammed Ashfaq v. State of Punjab (1984).

Pertin, T., & Singh, R. (2022). Evolution of Right to Privacy in the Constitution of India. International Journal of Law Management & Human, 5(166). https://heinonline.org/hol-cgi-bin/get_pdf.cgi?handle=hein.journals/ijlmhs17&section=16

Jha, S. (2023). Concept of Privacy in India: A Socio-Legal Critique. Journal of Management and Public Policy, 15(1), 33-44. https://search.proquest.com/openview/d48a91da01c71430bed289bb626ae3d5/1?pq-origsite=gscholar&cbl=906342

Chatterjee, S. (2019). Is data privacy a fundamental right in India? An analysis and recommendations from policy and legal perspective. International Journal of Law and Management, 61(1), 170-190. https://www.emerald.com/insight/content/doi/10.1108/IJLMA-01-2018-0013/full/html

Acharya, B. (2015). The four parts of privacy in India. Economic and Political Weekly, 32-38. https://www.jstor.org/stable/24482489

Singh, P. (2021). Aadhaar and data privacy: biometric identification and anxieties of recognition in India. Information, Communication & Society, 24(7), 978-993. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/1369118X.2019.1668459

Bhatia, G. (2014). State surveillance and the right to privacy in India: A constitutional biography. National Law School India Review, 26, 127. https://heinonline.org/hol-cgi-bin/get_pdf.cgi?handle=hein.journals/nlsind26&section=16

Acharya, B. (2015). The four parts of privacy in India. Economic and Political Weekly, 32-38. https://www.jstor.org/stable/24482489

Yadav, R., & Varshney, R. (2024). Right To Be Forgotten Amidst Data Protection, Right To Privacy And Cyber Security. Library Progress International, 44(2s), 1750-1757. https://bpasjournals.com/library-science/index.php/journal/article/view/2092

Bisht, A. K., & Sreenivasulu, N. S. (2024). Information Privacy Rights in India: A Study of the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023. IntechOpen. https://www.intechopen.com/online-first/1190882

Acharya, B. (2015). The four parts of privacy in India. Economic and Political Weekly, 32-38. https://www.jstor.org/stable/24482489

Bisht, A. K., & Sreenivasulu, N. S. (2024). Information Privacy Rights in India: A Study of the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023. IntechOpen. https://www.intechopen.com/online-first/1190882

Vashisht, B. (2023). Data Protection Laws: A Contemporary Study of EU and Indian Laws. International Journal of Law Management & Human, 6(793). https://heinonline.org/hol-cgi-bin/get_pdf.cgi?handle=hein.journals/ijlmhs24&section=76

Gupta, A. K. (2024). Right to privacy in digital technology act: Issues and policy in India. Indian Journal of Public Administration, 70(3), 532-545. https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/00195561241271517

Kaur, D. (2024). A Comparative Study of the Evaluation on the Right to Privacy in India and the UK, Their Legal Frameworks and Judicial Interpretation: A Cyber Law Perspective. https://ijlsi.com/wp-content/uploads/A-Comparative-Study-of-the-Evaluation-on-the-Right-to-Privacy-in-India-and-the-UK-Their-Legal-Frameworks-and-Judicial-Interpretation.pdf

Ness, S., & Khinvasara, T. (2024). Emerging Threats in Cyberspace: Implications for National Security Policy and Healthcare Sector. Journal of Engineering Research and Reports, 26(2), 107-117. https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Stephanie-Ness-3/publication/377774384_Emerging_Threats_in_Cyberspace_Implications_for_National_Security_Policy_and_Healthcare_Sector/links/65ba19e279007454974f6428/Emerging-Threats-in-Cyberspace-Implications-for-National-Security-Policy-and-Healthcare-Sector.pdf

Hiranandani, V. (2011). Privacy and security in the digital age: contemporary challenges and future directions. The International Journal of Human Rights, 15(7), 1091-1106. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/13642987.2010.493360

Imam, M. A. (2023). Fundamental Rights and Personal Data Protection: Analyzing the Impact of the Right to Privacy on India's Data Protection Framework. International Journal of Law Management & Human, 6(2021). https://heinonline.org/hol-cgi-bin/get_pdf.cgi?handle=hein.journals/ijlmhs26&section=178

Subramanian, R. (2010). Security, privacy and politics in India: A historical review. Journal of Information Systems Security (JISSec), 6(2). https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=2186523

Rawal, M. S., & Patel, H. (2023). A critical analysis of national and international legal framework for protection of the right to privacy and data protection. Resmilitaris, 13(1), 4042-4057. https://scholar9.com/publication/ae79c08a4a0e8201a06e1ec097531851.pdf

Bygrave, L. A. (2010). Privacy and data protection in an international perspective. Scandinavian Studies in Law, 56(8), 165-200. https://www.scandinavianlaw.se/pdf/56-8.pdf

Bisht, A. K., & Sreenivasulu, N. S. (2024). Information Privacy Rights in India: A Study of the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023. IntechOpen. https://www.intechopen.com/online-first/1190882

Kumaraguru, P., & Cranor, L. (2005, May). Privacy in India: Attitudes and awareness. In International Workshop on Privacy Enhancing Technologies (pp. 243-258). Springer Berlin Heidelberg. https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/11767831_16

Bygrave, L. A. (2004). Privacy protection in a global context–a comparative overview. Scandinavian Studies in Law, 47, 319-348. https://scandinavianlaw.se/pdf/47-15.pdf

Downloads

PDF
HTML

Published

2025-01-01

How to Cite

[1]

“The Evolution and Protection of Privacy as a Fundamental Right in India: Constitutional Milestones, Judicial Interpretations, and Contemporary Challenges”, JASRAE, vol. 22, no. 01, pp. 115–120, Jan. 2025, doi: 10.29070/zr35bw04.