On May 9, 2025, the Supreme Court of India upheld a Calcutta High Court ruling that installing CCTV cameras inside a shared residential property without the consent of all occupants violates their right to privacy.

The case involved a dispute between two brothers, where one installed CCTV cameras in the residential portion of their shared house without the other’s consent, claiming it was for safeguarding valuable items. The Calcutta High Court found this action infringed upon the co-occupant’s rights to privacy and free enjoyment of property, referencing the landmark Supreme Court judgment in Justice K.S. Puttaswamy (Retd.) v. Union of India, which affirmed privacy as a fundamental right under Article 21 of the Constitution.

Consequently, the High Court ordered the removal of five CCTV cameras installed without consent. The Supreme Court, with Justices Dipankar Datta and Manmohan presiding, dismissed the Special Leave Petition challenging this decision, thereby affirming the High Court’s stance.

This judgment reinforces the principle that privacy within one’s home is paramount, and any surveillance measures in shared residential spaces require the unanimous consent of all occupants.

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