Research Quest

My primary research interest lies in critically exploring the intersection of law, technology, and digital healthcare systems in India. As the Indian government increasingly turns to digital technologies such as Aadhaar-based authentication, Electronic Health Records (EHRs), and AI-driven health interventions to modernise the public healthcare system, there is an urgent need to examine how these systems interact with constitutional guarantees of privacy, autonomy, and dignity, particularly for women.

While such technologies are introduced under the banner of efficiency and inclusion, I argue that they often operate within a fragmented legal framework and exacerbate existing inequalities through digital divides and uneven digital literacy, especially in rural and marginalised communities. These raises pressing questions about reproductive autonomy and the right to bodily integrity in the age of pervasive digital governance.

I critically examine the absence of a comprehensive health data protection law, the limitations of the Aadhaar Act, and the broader implications of centralised data collection under schemes like the National Digital Health Mission. My work draws upon constitutional principles, particularly Articles 14, 19, and 21, to assess whether state-led surveillance and technological interventions in healthcare respect the right to privacy as articulated in the Puttuswamy judgment.

Methodologically, my research employs a doctrinal approach combined with socio-legal analysis, drawing from comparative constitutional law, feminist jurisprudence, and technology law frameworks. I also engage with global standards, such as the EU’s GDPR, to assess their applicability or potential adaptation in the Indian context.

Academic Bio

Samriddhi Rai has been affiliated with Chanakya University’s School of Law since the commencement of her doctoral research. She is interested in the intersection of constitutional law, digital governance, maternal healthcare, and reproductive rights, with a particular focus on privacy, cybersecurity, and surveillance frameworks.

She holds a B.A. LL.B. (Distinction) from Banasthali Vidyapith and an LL.M. in Constitutional Law from CMR University, Bangalore (First Division). She is an enrolled advocate, having cleared AIBE XVIII in 2023.

Samriddhi has authored articles, including Analysis of Legal Status of Unborn Child and Determining the Legal Framework of Abortion Laws Between India & the USA (IJRAR, 2023) and Robust Criminal Profiling: Need of the Hour in Criminal Justice of India (Jus Corpus, 2022) indexed in Hein online, along with publications on custodial violence, mediation, and gender-based crimes. Additionally, Samriddhi undertook a field-based Labour Law project at BHEL, Noida, under Shri C.B. Singh (Dy. Officer, Law), interviewing factory workers and analyzing ground-level implementation of legal protections.

She has held key positions as Internship Coordinator at The Amikus Qriae (MSME) and Newsletter Writer at Think India Tribal Rights Forum. Her core legal training includes internships with Senior Advocate Pradeep Rai, Anuradha Paul (Ex- Assistant Solicitor General, Meghalaya HC), and Think India (NITI Aayog).

Educational Qualification