Right to Privacy for Women: Legal Framework and Social Imperatives

The right to privacy is a fundamental human right essential for the dignity, autonomy, and freedom of individuals, particularly for women. In India, this right gained constitutional recognition with the landmark judgment in Justice K.S. Puttaswamy (Retd.) v. Union of India which elevated privacy to the status of a fundamental right under Article 21. For women, privacy is intrinsically linked to issues like bodily autonomy, reproductive rights, data protection, domestic space, and protection from surveillance. This paper explores the legal contours of the right to privacy for women, the social and cultural barriers, state responsibility, and judicial interpretations. It also examines case studies to evaluate the enforcement of privacy rights in real-life contexts. 1. To define and understand the scope of the right to privacy from a gendered perspective. 2. To examine constitutional, legal, and international frameworks related to women's privacy rights. 3. To analyze key judicial pronouncements related to privacy and women's rights in India. 4. To study the challenges faced by women in exercising their right to privacy. To offer suggestions for strengthening privacy rights for women in policy and practice. Keyword : Privacy Right, Women, Gender, Legal Framework, Social Imperatives