Reassessing the Indian Telegraph Act, 1885 in the Light of the Right to Privacy

The Indian Telegraph Act, 1885 has served as a legislative framework governing telecommunication in India for over a century. However, its colonial origins and outdated provisions have increasingly come into conflict with the realities of modern communication and the fundamental right to privacy. This article critically examines the provisions of the Act in the context of landmark Supreme Court rulings, including Justice K.S. Puttaswamy (Retd.) v. Union of India and People’s Union for Civil Liberties v. Union of India, highlighting the tensions between state surveillance powers and individual rights. It calls for urgent legislative reform to align the law with constitutional mandates and the needs of a digital society.