Question

In which of the following judgments was the issue of ‘Right to Privacy’ discussed by the Supreme Court of India?
I. Kharak Singh v. State of Uttar Pradesh (1963)
II. PUCL v. Union of India (1997)
III. Justice K.S. Puttaswamy v. Union of India (2017)
IV. M.P. Sharma v. Satish Chandra (1954)

• A. II, III and IV
• B. II and III
• C. Only III
• D. I, II, III and IV

Hint:

Remember: Privacy jurisprudence flows from M.P. Sharma → Kharak Singh → PUCL → Puttaswamy.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is D

Step 1: Understanding the evolution of the Right to Privacy.
The right to privacy was not explicitly mentioned in the Constitution, but has been judicially interpreted over time.
Step 2: Evaluating all four cases.
- M.P. Sharma (1954): The Court held that the Constitution does not recognise a general right to privacy.
- Kharak Singh (1963): The Court struck down nighttime surveillance and hinted at privacy as part of personal liberty.
- PUCL (1997): Recognised privacy in the context of telephone tapping.
- Puttaswamy (2017): Declared privacy as a fundamental right under Article 21.
Step 3: Final conclusion.
All four judgments are connected to the legal development of the right to privacy.