Report No. 156

18. Offence against privacy.-

The right of personal privacy has been construed by the Supreme Court to be covered under Article 21 of the Constitution of India and is thus a fundamental right. The ambit of the said legal position or in widened scope. Thus whether a new Chapter should be incorporated in the Indian Penal Code dealing with violation of personal privacy, if so, nature of acts which should be punishable under the Code.

Consequentially it is for consideration whether as a beginning, the use of artificial listening or recording apparatus to eavesdrop on pri 'rate conversations, or unauthorised taking photographs of a person without his consent or against his wishes and the publication of any information gathered by such method should be prohibited and made penal.