Right to Privacy under the Indian Constitution

Abstract

The right to privacy has emerged as one of the most significant fundamental rights in modern constitutional law and democratic governance. In India, the concept of privacy has gained increasing importance due to rapid technological advancement, digital communication, surveillance systems, data collection practices, and expanding state and corporate access to personal information. Privacy is closely connected with individual dignity, liberty, autonomy, and personal freedom, making it an essential component of constitutional rights and human rights protection. the right to privacy under the Indian Constitution from a legal and constitutional perspective. It explores the evolution of privacy rights through judicial interpretation, constitutional provisions, and landmark judgments delivered by the Indian judiciary. The paper particularly analyzes the significance of the Supreme Court judgment in Justice K. S. Puttaswamy v. Union of India (2017), which recognized the right to privacy as a fundamental right under Article 21 of the Constitution of India. the relationship between privacy and other constitutional rights such as freedom of speech, personal liberty, equality, and human dignity. It also examines contemporary challenges related to digital surveillance, data protection, social media, artificial intelligence, biometric identification systems, and cybersecurity in the digital age. The study evaluates the role of constitutional safeguards, judicial activism, and data protection laws in balancing individual privacy rights with national security, public interest, and technological development.