Right to Privacy is a fundamental right that cannot be taken away. It necessitates respect because it is linked to human dignity. However, given the current situation, it is under a great threat. We can see how the overly excited media is infringing on people’s personal rights. It is necessary to strike a balance between two approaches. When it comes to balancing the right to privacy versus the freedom of the press, both public and private interests must be considered.
Media is considered as the fourth pillar of the nation. It is a crucial part of democracy as it acts as a medium to express one’s feelings, emotions, opinions and viewpoints. Media facilitates in forming a base opinion for the people on various regional, national, international matters. Therefore, the burden of shaping general public’s thinking lies on the shoulder of media. Thus, Freedom of press is considered as the foundation of democracy. Article 19(1) (a) of the Indian constitution guarantees freedom of speech and expression and under that falls freedom of press. The main aim of Article 19 is to safeguard the right to freedom of speech and expression. It means that the state cannot intervene with the content and circulation of the newspaper. Though India is blessed with freedom of speech and expression, the right is subject to reasonable limitations under Article 19 (2) of the Constitution. As a result, freedom of speech and expression is limited. Certain restrictions apply to this right, hence, making it not absolute. The constraints must be followed in order to maintain consistency.
Privacy is a relatively recent concept in the legal framework that is continually evolving. It is difficult to define privacy, particularly in legal terms. The right to privacy is a critical component in safeguarding persons and the foundations of individuality. The Right to Privacy is not explicitly mentioned in the Indian Constitution. However, Article 21 explains the scope of the right to privacy. The right to privacy was later incorporated into the right to life and personal liberty. As a result, under the Indian constitution, the right to privacy is a fundamental right that must be maintained in all circumstances.
At present, we can see how the media has become unpredictable as a result of over-commercialization, and how it has gone past the bounds of its rights by infringing people’s right to privacy. The right to privacy has a solid legal foundation; it is a fundamental, inherent, and unalienable right. In the realm of journalism, the exploitation of technical breakthroughs and unhealthy competitiveness led in the obliteration of norms and obligations to the noble profession.
The right to free speech and expression, which is the cornerstone of journalism, is routinely abused. Despite the fact that the press plays an important role in public welfare, it must operate properly. The problem is that the right to privacy is not a positive right; it only exists when it is violated. Judgments have been the only way for the law to grow. When it comes to public safety and security, the right to privacy is frequently violated. In our daily lives, the Indian media infringes on our privacy. To summarize the foundation, it declares a conflict between the public’s right to know and privacy invasion. With great power comes great responsibility.
Aishwarya Says:
I have always been against Glorifying Over Work and therefore, in the year 2021, I have decided to launch this campaign “Balancing Life”and talk about this wrong practice, that we have been following since last few years. I will be talking to and interviewing around 1 lakh people in the coming 2021 and publish their interview regarding their opinion on glamourising Over Work.
If you are interested in participating in the same, do let me know.
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We also have a Facebook Group Restarter Moms for Mothers or Women who would like to rejoin their careers post a career break or women who are enterpreneurs.
We are also running a series Inspirational Women from January 2021 to March 31,2021, featuring around 1000 stories about Indian Women, who changed the world. #choosetochallenge