Swamy likens Supreme Court verdict on Right to Privacy with 'abolition of Emergency in 1977'

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Subramanian Swamy lauded the Supreme Court's decision to uphold the Right to Privacy as 'fundamental' and said that this would be as important for the country as the abolition of Emergency in 1977.

Swami said, "Just like the abolition of Emergency strengthened the feeling of democracy, this will do the same"

In an interview with ANI, Swami termed the decision as a victory for democracy.

He said that the judgement passed today holds parallel to other historic decisions made in the Supreme Court.

"The decision is as important as H.R. Khanna's stand on the Habeas Corpus. It holds parallel with the basic structure decision, and with the Mumbai judgment. It has given us another pillar of democracy"

He added that just like all the other rights, the Right to Privacy will be subject to reasonable restrictions as well.

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.