{"id":13649,"date":"2025-12-30T12:24:46","date_gmt":"2025-12-30T12:24:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/?p=13649"},"modified":"2025-12-30T12:28:46","modified_gmt":"2025-12-30T12:28:46","slug":"kharak-singh-v-state-of-up-dissenting-opinion-and-the-birth-of-privacy-rights-in-india","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/kharak-singh-v-state-of-up-dissenting-opinion-and-the-birth-of-privacy-rights-in-india\/","title":{"rendered":"Kharak Singh v. State of UP: Dissenting Opinion and the Birth of Privacy Rights in India"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"petition-question\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Petition_Question\"><\/span>Petition Question<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The question raised in the petition was that, whether Chapter 22 of UP Regulations infringes fundamental rights under Article 19 and Article 21?[3]<\/p><div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_83 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #0c0c0c;color:#0c0c0c\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #0c0c0c;color:#0c0c0c\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/kharak-singh-v-state-of-up-dissenting-opinion-and-the-birth-of-privacy-rights-in-india\/#Petition_Question\" >Petition Question<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/kharak-singh-v-state-of-up-dissenting-opinion-and-the-birth-of-privacy-rights-in-india\/#Case_Details\" >Case Details<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/kharak-singh-v-state-of-up-dissenting-opinion-and-the-birth-of-privacy-rights-in-india\/#Kharak_Singh_vs_State_of_UP\" >Kharak Singh vs State of UP<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/kharak-singh-v-state-of-up-dissenting-opinion-and-the-birth-of-privacy-rights-in-india\/#Summary_of_Dissenting_Opinion\" >Summary of Dissenting Opinion<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/kharak-singh-v-state-of-up-dissenting-opinion-and-the-birth-of-privacy-rights-in-india\/#Questions_Raised_by_the_Supreme_Court\" >Questions Raised by the Supreme Court<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/kharak-singh-v-state-of-up-dissenting-opinion-and-the-birth-of-privacy-rights-in-india\/#Analysis_of_Dissenting_Opinion\" >Analysis of Dissenting Opinion<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/kharak-singh-v-state-of-up-dissenting-opinion-and-the-birth-of-privacy-rights-in-india\/#Conclusion\" >Conclusion<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/kharak-singh-v-state-of-up-dissenting-opinion-and-the-birth-of-privacy-rights-in-india\/#Updates_and_Subsequent_Developments\" >Updates and Subsequent Developments<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-9\" href=\"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/kharak-singh-v-state-of-up-dissenting-opinion-and-the-birth-of-privacy-rights-in-india\/#End-Notes\" >End-Notes<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"case-details\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Case_Details\"><\/span>Case Details<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"case-title\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Kharak_Singh_vs_State_of_UP\"><\/span>Kharak Singh vs State of UP<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Writ Petition No.:<\/strong> 856 of 1961[1]<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Date of Judgment:<\/strong> December 18, 1962[2]<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"summary-of-dissenting-opinion\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Summary_of_Dissenting_Opinion\"><\/span>Summary of Dissenting Opinion<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"questions-framed-by-supreme-court\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Questions_Raised_by_the_Supreme_Court\"><\/span>Questions Raised by the Supreme Court<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Whether surveillance under Chapter 22 of UP Regulation infringes any citizen&#8217;s fundamental rights guaranteed under Part III of the Indian Constitution?[4]<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Whether the right to privacy is a fundamental right?[5]<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"analysis-of-dissenting-opinion\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Analysis_of_Dissenting_Opinion\"><\/span>Analysis of Dissenting Opinion<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The Supreme Court held that when the whereabouts of a person are unknown, attempts made to track his whereabouts do not amount to stalking. However, Justice Rao also focused on the psychological impact of surveillance or stalking upon the targets.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Stalking is imbibed under Section 354D of IPC[6]. Measuring the amount of compensation for restoring the victim back to its original position, which he was enjoying before the occurrence of the act, is important. But it is difficult to measure mental injury.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The majority opinion holds that the petition is partly allowed and Regulation 236(b), authorizing domiciliary visits, is struck down as it violates Article 21 of the Indian Constitution (entitling the petitioner to issue mandamus against the respondent) because life and liberty are beyond the sphere of physical restraints and bonds of prison. Article 20(3) of the Constitution[7] prohibits self-incrimination.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"conclusion\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Conclusion\"><\/span>Conclusion<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The crux derived from dissent is as follows:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Privacy rights are physical and psychological rights.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Regulation 236 is unconstitutional in its entirety as it infringes Article 19(1)(d) and Article 21.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Pertinently, the judgment is not unanimously agreed upon.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"updates-and-subsequent-developments\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Updates_and_Subsequent_Developments\"><\/span>Updates and Subsequent Developments<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The dissenting opinion in <em>Kharak Singh vs State of UP<\/em> later gained significant constitutional importance, particularly in shaping the evolution of the right to privacy in India.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The reasoning emphasizing the psychological impact of surveillance was expressly relied upon in later constitutional adjudication, including the recognition of privacy as a fundamental right.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>In <em>Justice K.S. Puttaswamy (Retd.) vs Union of India<\/em> (2017), the Supreme Court unanimously held that the right to privacy is a fundamental right under Articles 14, 19, and 21, effectively endorsing the dissenting view expressed in this case.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The judgment is now widely cited in constitutional law discourse as an example of a dissent that ultimately became the law of the land.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"end-notes\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"End-Notes\"><\/span>End-Notes<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>SCC OnLine SC 10.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Ibid.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Ibid.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Ibid.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Ibid.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The Indian Penal Code, 1860.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Ibid.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p><strong>Award-Winning Article Written By: Ms.Anamika Tyagi<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/images\/ae-1.png\" alt=\"Certificate of Excellence awarded by Legal Service India\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Authentication No: AP410437754573-13-0424<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Petition Question The question raised in the petition was that, whether Chapter 22 of UP Regulations infringes fundamental rights under Article 19 and Article 21?[3] Case Details Kharak Singh vs State of UP Summary of Dissenting Opinion Questions Raised by the Supreme Court Analysis of Dissenting Opinion The Supreme Court held that when the whereabouts<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":924,"featured_media":13713,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_bbp_topic_count":0,"_bbp_reply_count":0,"_bbp_total_topic_count":0,"_bbp_total_reply_count":0,"_bbp_voice_count":0,"_bbp_anonymous_reply_count":0,"_bbp_topic_count_hidden":0,"_bbp_reply_count_hidden":0,"_bbp_forum_subforum_count":0,"two_page_speed":[],"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"_joinchat":[],"footnotes":""},"categories":[14],"tags":[775,28],"class_list":{"0":"post-13649","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-constitutional-law","8":"tag-constitutional-law","9":"tag-top-news"},"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/kharak-singh-right-to-privacy-article-image.webp","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13649","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/924"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=13649"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13649\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/13713"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=13649"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=13649"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=13649"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}