People's Union for Civil Liberties vs. Union of India

Honourable Supreme Court of India

People’s Union for Civil Liberties vs. Union of India (1997) 1 SCC 301

Honourable Supreme Court of India has held that illegal tapping or recording of the Telephone Conversation tantamount to infringement of the Article 19 of the Constitution of India.

Para 19. Right to freedom of speech and expression is guaranteed under Article 19(1)(a) of the Constitution. This freedom means the right to express one’s convictions and opinions freely by word of mouth, writing, printing, picture, or in any other manner. When a person is talking on telephone, he is exercising his right to freedom of speech and expression. Telephone-tapping unless it comes within the grounds of restrictions under Article 19(2) would infract Article 19(1)(a) of the Constitution.

Drafted By Abhijit Mishra

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