New Delhi argues that privacy is not a fundamental right

In the ongoing right to privacy case in the Supreme Court, Attorney General K K Venugopal argued on Wednesday that privacy is not a fundamental right, according to media reports.

PTI reported that Karnataka, West Bengal, Punjab and Puducherry states, which are not ruled by the BJP, on Wednesday asked the apex court to determine whether the right to privacy can be considered one of the fundamental rights protected by the Constitution.

Senior advocate Kapil Sibal, appearing on behalf of the four states, told the nine-judge Constitution bench that the states agree with the argument that privacy is a fundamental right under Article 21 of the Constitution. He was quoted as saying, “Privacy cannot be an absolute right. But it is a fundamental right. This court needs to strike a balance.”

However, Venugopal, speaking on the central government’s behalf, said, “Privacy is part of right to life under Article 21, but does not enjoy the status of a fundamental right.”