How did Justice K.S. Puttaswamy v. Union of India establish privacy as a fundamental right in India?

In the landmark 2017 judgment Justice K.S. Puttaswamy v. Union of India, the Supreme Court of India formally recognized the right to privacy as a fundamental right protected under the Constitution of India.

The Court established this by expanding the interpretation of Article 21, which guarantees the right to life and personal liberty. By ruling that privacy is an intrinsic part of these liberties, the judiciary affirmed that individual autonomy and dignity are essential components of the constitutional framework. This decision significantly broadened the scope of Article 21, moving beyond a narrow reading to include protections for personal information, digital rights, and freedom from state surveillance.

This ruling has since served as a foundational precedent, influencing subsequent legal developments and government policies, including the regulation of personal data and the protection of individual rights in the digital age.1