DNA Exclusive: Right to Privacy: In SC, Centre vs Karnataka soon
Even as the Centre maintains that Right to Privacy is not a Fundamental Right, a key Opposition-ruled state – Karnataka – is set to enter the ongoing legal debate by telling a Constitution Bench of the Supreme Court that it doesn’t agree with the views of the Centre.
Congress-ruled Karnataka will be the first state to oppose the Centre on such a key issue.
On Tuesday, when the nine-judge bench resumes hearing on the issue of whether Indian citizens have an inherent right to privacy under the Constitution, former Union Law Minister and senior advocate Kapil Sibal will appear for the State of Karnataka.
“We don’t agree with the stand taken by the Centre. And, that is what we will tell the court. Right to privacy is central to human dignity and it is surprising we are still having this debate on whether we have a right to privacy,” Sibal told DNA.
Karnataka Additional Advocate General Devadutt Kamat says, “While we understand that it is facet of Article 21, right to privacy may not be absolute. A lot of data concerning citizens is out in the public domain. But, the state can’t prey upon this data without just cause and reason. Also, regimes will …read more
