Justice K.S.Puttaswamy(Retd) vs Union Of India on 26 September, 2018
constitutional value of human dignity has a central normative role. Human dignity as a
constitutional value is the factor that unites the human rights into one whole. It ensures the
normative unity of human rights. This normative unity is expressed in the three ways: first, the
value of human dignity serves as a normative basis for constitutional rights set out in the
Constitution; second, it serves as an interpretative principle for determining the scope of
constitutional rights, including the right to human dignity; third, the value of human dignity has an
important role in determining the proportionality of a statute limiting a constitutional right.
38. All the three goals of human dignity as a constitutional value are expanded by the author in a
scholarly manner. Some of the excerpts thereof, are reproduced below which give a glimpse of these
goals:
The first role of human dignity as a constitutional value is expressed in the approach that it
comprises the foundation for all of the constitutional rights. Human dignity is the central argument
for the existence of human rights. It is the rationale for them all. It is the justification for the
existence of rights. According to Christoph Enders, it is the constitutional value that determines that
every person has the right to have rights The second role of human dignity as a constitutional value
is to provide meaning to the norms of the legal system. According to purposive interpretation, all of
the provisions of the Constitution, and particularly all of the rights in the constitutional bill of rights,
are interpreted in light of human dignity Lastly, human dignity as a constitutional value influences
the development of the common law. Indeed, where common law is recognised, Judges have the
duty to develop it, and if necessary, modify it, so that it expresses constitutional values, including
the constitutional value of human dignity. To the extent that common law determines rights and
duties between individuals, it might limit the human dignity of one individual and protect the
human dignity of the other.
100) The concept was developed and expanded further in K.S.
Puttaswamy. The Court held that privacy postulates the reservation of a private space for an
individual, described as the right to be let alone, as a concept founded on autonomy of the
individual. In this way, right to privacy has been treated as a postulate of human dignity itself. While
defining so, the Court also remarked as under:
298. Privacy of the individual is an essential aspect of dignity. Dignity has both an
intrinsic and instrumental value. As an intrinsic value, human dignity is an
entitlement or a constitutionally protected interest in itself. In its instrumental facet,
dignity and freedom are inseparably intertwined, each being a facilitative tool to
achieve the other. The ability of the individual to protect a zone of privacy enables the
realisation of the full value of life and liberty... The family, marriage, procreation and
sexual orientation are all integral to the dignity of the individual.
Above all, the privacy of the individual recognises an inviolable right to determine how freedom
shall be exercised...
Indian Kanoon - http://indiankanoon.org/doc/127517806/
94
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