The petition challenges several provisions of the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023 and the Digital Personal Data Protection Rules, 2025, arguing that they dilute constitutional privacy protections and undermine democratic safeguards. It contends that the framework grants the State broad powers to process and access personal data without adequate safeguards, eliminates the right of individuals to seek compensation for data breaches, fails to provide necessary exemptions for journalistic activities, and establishes a Data Protection Board that lacks independence from the executive. The petition argues that these provisions violate fundamental rights under Articles 14, 19, and 21 of the Constitution, particularly the right to privacy recognized in Justice K.S. Puttaswamy v. Union of India. The petitioners therefore seek the striking down or reading down of the impugned provisions and directions to ensure a constitutionally compliant data protection regime that protects individual privacy, safeguards press freedom, and provides effective remedies for violations. The petition has been filed by Senior Journalist Geeta Seshu alongside Software Freedom Law Center, India.
