Jaitley hails 'positive' right to privacy verdict, says Centre had clear stand on it

Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley on Thursday expressed his views on the Supreme Court's right to privacy verdict, asserting that the government always had a clear stand on the issue.

Addressing a press conference here after the Supreme Court held that the right to privacy is a fundamental right and an integral part of the right to life and liberty, Jaitley said, "The Supreme Court who has made its clarification today, I think it is a positive development. Also, the Government always had a clear stand on privacy. It is positive because as the evolution of constitution goes on there is always a method to strengthen the fundamental rights. Originally when the constitution was framed, Article 21 said, and that still reads that no person shall be deprived from his right to liberty without procedure established by law."

Further, lauding the government, Jaitley stated that "we brought the Aadhaar legislation and also put special provision in regards to privacy."

"In the government, I was absolutely clear particularly in 2016, when the Aadhaar law was to be framed. UPA brought about the Aadhaar without a law, and there was no safeguard put by UPA as to how the data would be protected and used. But when the new government took over we brought the Aadhaar legislation we also put special provision in regards to privacy," he said.

Earlier today, the Supreme Court overruled the M.P. Sharma (1962) and Kharak Singh (1954) judgement and held that the Right to Privacy is a fundamental right under Article 21 of the Indian Constitution, in an unanimous decision (of the nine-judge bench).

The verdict was given as soon as the nine-judge Constitution bench of the apex court resumed the hearing on the case on Thursday morning.

Following this, a five-judge constitutional bench will decide whether the Aadhar violates the Right to Privacy or not.