POLITICAL ASYLUM- EXAMINING THE POST OFFICE BILL OF 2023 AND THE IMPLICATION ON THE RIGHT TO PRIVACY

AUTHOR – AASHIKA PARVEEN, CHAITANYA SAGAR KONDIKANTI & KEERTHANA P NARAYAN, STUDENTS AT ALLIANCE SCHOOL OF LAW, ALLIANCE UNIVERSITY, BANGALORE

BEST CITATION – AASHIKA PARVEEN, CHAITANYA SAGAR KONDIKANTI & KEERTHANA P NARAYAN, POLITICAL ASYLUM- EXAMINING THE POST OFFICE BILL OF 2023 AND THE IMPLICATION ON THE RIGHT TO PRIVACY, INDIAN JOURNAL OF LEGAL REVIEW (IJLR), 5 (1) OF 2025, PG. 619-630, APIS – 3920 – 0001 & ISSN – 2583-2344.

ABSTRACT

Recently in 2023, the parliament of India consolidated and amended its 125-years old Indian Post Office Act of 1898. The question arise here is what led to the amended of such an old law in the country? It was the frauds, theft, misconduct by the postal official and the old laws applicability that led to the changes. Thus, to understand the comparison between the 1898 and 2023 this research papers dwells with critical analysis of Post Office Act, 2023 and its key changes its criticism on the right to privacy in India. As the new Act gives the power to the authorities to intercept and detain postal items, which raises potential questions on the discretionary power given to the authorities and the individual fundamental right to privacy infringement. To understand the same, will focus firstly on analyzing the provision of the Act and the major chances particularly Sections 9 and 10, which authorize mail interception and limit postal officials’ liability.

Privacy’s changing concept in the light of evolved technology is the fundamental thing to consider that touches both India and global dimensions. The article traces the development of privacy rights in the Indian law, particularly after the Puttaswamy case, by identifying these changes to data protection measures in the European GDPR rules. And by the way, it also delves into the media’s role in the formation of societal dialogue, and gives some where the media distorted the laws, causing the people a wrong interpretation of these laws. Also, assesses the level of awareness of the Act and the extent of its consent for the public through qualitative research, such as draw out of questionnaires and secondary sources. It also examines the legislative debates and policy challenges that are involved in the balancing of privacy rights and state security. The crux of this study, then, is to give a complete legal interpretation of the Post Office Act, 2023, in the context of India’s constitutional framework and world privacy standards.