The Supreme Court of India has struck down any forced or involuntary narco test as unconstitutional. This decision overturned a Patna High Court order allowing such a test in the case of Amlesh Kumar v. State of Bihar (2025). The apex court stated the High Court's order violated the 2010 Selvi v. State of Karnataka guidelines. A narco test involves sedating an accused person to lower their inhibitions with substances like Sodium Pentothal. The goal is to make them reveal hidden facts. While similar to polygraph tests, narco tests raise serious constitutional issues. Article 20(3) protects against self-incrimination, which means no one can be forced to testify against themselves. The Supreme Court emphasized that without free and informed consent, any narco test will violate this right. As a result, any information gained through forced testing cannot be used as evidence. Article 20’s other clauses protect against ex-post facto laws and double jeopardy. Taken together, they form the core of India’s criminal justice protections. Moreover, forced narco tests violate personal liberty and the Right to Privacy enshrined in Article 21. The court referred to the 'Golden Triangle' of Articles 14, 19, and 21, saying these rights are interlinked and vital to democratic justice. Previous court rulings, such as in Manoj Kumar Saini v. State of MP (2023) and Vinobhai v. State of Kerala (2025), show narco test results alone don’t prove guilt and must be backed by other evidence. The Supreme Court also clarified that consent to narco tests must be informed, recorded before a magistrate, and supported by medical and legal safeguards. Testing is only allowed if voluntarily given at the defence stage under Section 253 of BNSS, but there is no guaranteed right to it. The court underlined that individual autonomy and natural justice require acts to be done with consent. Forced narco tests breach ethical standards and fundamental human rights. This ruling reinforces India's commitment to protecting citizens from invasive and involuntary investigative methods.