What is Puttaswamy's case?

Asked by: Prof. Amari Johnson  |  Last update: May 22, 2026
Score: 4.5/5 (5 votes)

The Puttaswamy case refers to the landmark 2017 Indian Supreme Court judgment (Justice K.S. Puttaswamy (Retd.) v. Union of India) that unanimously declared the Right to Privacy a fundamental right under the Indian Constitution, stemming from a challenge to the Aadhaar biometric identification scheme, establishing significant protections for individual data and autonomy against state intrusion.

What exactly does "right to privacy" mean?

Legally, the right of privacy is a basic law which includes: The right of persons to be free from unwarranted publicity. Unwarranted appropriation of one's personality. Publicizing one's private affairs without a legitimate public concern.

What is the landmark judgement of 2017?

On August 24th 2017, the Supreme Court unanimously recognised privacy as a fundamental right guaranteed by the Constitution: Majority Opinion authored by Justice Chandrachud on behalf of Chief Justice Khehar and Justices Agrawal, Nazeer and himself. Concurring Opinion authored by Justice Chelameswar.

How did Puttaswamy challenge Aadhaar?

In 2012, Justice K.S. Puttaswamy (Retired) filed a petition in the Supreme Court challenging the constitutionality of Aadhaar on the grounds that it violates the right to privacy. During the hearings, the Central government opposed the classification of privacy as a fundamental right.

What is the Supreme Court decision on Aadhaar card?

This made Aadhaar mandatory for a range of services and benefits, including availing of welfare benefits, obtaining a PAN card and opening a bank account. Around two years later, the Supreme Court finally delivered its verdict – it upheld the Aadhaar Act as constitutional by a 4:1 majority.

STRAY DOG- HOW DARE COMMENT ON SC ORDER- SC ANGRY, WARNS OF CONTEMPT OF COURT #supremecourtofindia

39 related questions found

What is the main point of Puttaswamy case?

(2017), commonly known as the Right to Privacy verdict, was a landmark decision of the Supreme Court of India, which held that the right to privacy is protected as a fundamental right under Articles 14, 19 and 21 of the Constitution of India.

Why is Aadhaar suspended?

Bad or abusive data (mixed biometrics, abusive words, multiple names). Child biometric updates not done at age 5 or 15. Foreign nationals when visa expires. Other reasons if UIDAI feels necessary.

What is the new rule of Aadhaar?

Explained: How UIDAI's New Rule Will Change Aadhaar-Based Verification. The Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) will soon require hotels, event organisers and other private entities to register before using Aadhaar for identity verification, according to a PTI report.

Who is Puttaswamy?

Puttaswamy enrolled as an advocate in 1952. He was appointed judge of the Karnataka High Court in November 1977. He was appointed the first vice-chairman of the Central Administrative Tribunal, Bangalore Bench, in September 1986.

How did Puttaswamy case impact data protection?

The landmark Puttaswamy judgement has declared the right to privacy as a fundamental right. Such a right will have a significant impact on the construc- tion of provisions that empower law enforcement authorities to undertake searches.

What is the most famous Supreme Court case?

Landmark United States Supreme Court Cases

  • Marbury v. Madison (1803) ...
  • McCulloch v. Maryland (1819) ...
  • Gibbons v. Ogden (1824) ...
  • Dred Scott v. Sandford (1857) ...
  • Schenck v. United States (1919) ...
  • Brown v. Board of Education (1954) ...
  • Gideon v. Wainwright (1963) ...
  • Miranda v. Arizona (1966)

Can Supreme Court decisions be overturned?

When the Supreme Court rules on a constitutional issue, that judgment is virtually final; its decisions can be altered only by the rarely used procedure of constitutional amendment or by a new ruling of the Court.

What are the four types of privacy rights?

Intrusion upon seclusion; Appropriation of a person's name or likeness; Public disclosure of private facts; and. Publicity placing person in false light.

What is the 4th Amendment word for word?

“The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things ...

What are the 7 principles of privacy?

The "7 privacy principles" often refer to those in the GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation) or Privacy by Design (PbD), with GDPR focusing on data processing (Lawfulness, Purpose Limitation, Minimization, Accuracy, Storage Limitation, Security, Accountability) and PbD on system design (Proactive, Default, Embedded, Full Functionality, End-to-End Security, Visibility, Respect for User). Both frameworks emphasize transparency, security, and user control, guiding organizations to handle personal data responsibly.
 

What laws protect the right to privacy?

Californians' privacy rights were officially established with the passage of the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) in 2018.

Who is the highest protector of the law in India?

The Attorney General of India, appointed by the President under Article 76, serves as the nation's highest law officer and principal legal advisor to the Government. The Attorney General provides legal counsel to the Government and represents it before the Supreme Court. The current officeholder is R. Venkataramani.

What is the Supreme Court decision on Aadhaar?

The Supreme Court recently upheld the constitutionality of the Aadhaar in its majority verdict (4 out of 5 judges).

Who is not eligible for an Aadhaar Card?

NRIs, although they are citizens of India, are not eligible for Aadhaar Card if they have not stayed for more than 182 days or more in the last 12 months.

How many times can age be changed in Aadhaar?

A user can update their name twice, gender and DOB can be updated once and rest there are no limits on the change of address and mobile on producing valid documents of proof of identity and proof of address.

Can I change my name in my Aadhaar card online?

You can apply for update/correction of your Aadhaar Card data online. This service is provided by the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI). Users can update details such as name, gender, date of birth, address and mobile number. The request for correction/update can also be sent by post.

What is the problem with Aadhaar?

Data and Privacy Security. There are apprehensions regarding the privacy and security of Aadhaar data, marked by instances of data breaches and unauthorized use. Resolution: Improvements in data security and privacy can involve: Enforcing stringent access controls and employing encryption methods for data protection.

What will happen if we lock Aadhaar?

Ans: For Locking Aadhaar Number:

Once it is locked you will not be able to perform any form of Authentication (Biometric, Demographic or OTP) using your Aadhaar Number. However, you can still use your latest Virtual ID for performing Authentication.

How many SIMs are in my Aadhaar card?

Only one mobile number can be linked with your Aadhaar card. However, you can get up to nine mobile numbers by producing the same Aadhaar number to complete the verification process for SIM issuance.