The Indian Supreme Court's landmark rulings on encryption and privacy, notably the 2017 Puttaswamy case, established privacy as a fundamental right. However, administrative resistance, including government demands for decryption to combat misinformation, threatens these protections. Proposed laws targeting end-to-end encryption, like the 2021 Intermediary Guidelines, risk undermining free speech and privacy. Tensions escalated as Vice President Dhankhar criticized the judiciary’s use of Article 142, accusing it of overreach. The Supreme Court’s interventions, such as halting the Waqf Act amendments, highlight a constitutional crisis, with the executive challenging judicial authority. This standoff raises concerns about democratic checks and balances, as the judiciary strives to uphold constitutional rights against increasing executive pushback and public campaigns questioning its legitimacy.

Love is wrong, turn back, while it is not dark, while you remember the way.