Can State Violate Privacy Rights Of Accused By Publishing Their Photographs In Media Or Parading Them? Madhya Pradesh HC To Examine [Read Order]

The Madhya Pradesh High Court will examine whether the State Govt. by issuing an executive instruction, can violate the privacy rights of the accused by publishing their uncovered faces in news paper/ media or by parading them in Society.?

Justice G.S. Ahluwalia was considering a petition filed by a man who alleged that his photographs in the custody of the police were also made viral in the social media which has tarnished his image in the society. In response to this petition, the State filed a reply admitting that he was wrongly arrested and the concerned police officer was saddled with the punishment of fine of Rs.5000.

To the query about the provision of law under which the photographs of an accused with uncovered face can be published either in print media or electronic media or social sites, the state submitted that a circular has been issued in the year 2014 regarding sharing of information with media and the uncovered faces of an accused can be shared with the media subject to various restrictions as mentioned in the circular itself. In this regard, the judge said that the following important question of law arises in this case.

""Whether the State Govt. by issuing an executive instruction, can violate the Fundamental Rights of an accused as enshrined under Article 21 of the Constitution of India, by getting their uncovered faces published in the News paper or in any other form of media or by parading them in Society etc.?""

The judge noted that the reply filed by the state is completely silent about whether violation of the rights and privacy of an innocent citizen of the country by publishing his photograph with uncovered face and projecting him as hard core criminal as well as tarnishing his reputation, is a normal mistake or is a serious misconduct? The reply is also completely silent on the question of payment of compensation, Justice Ahluwalia noted. The court directed the state to give a detailed response to the following queries.

(I) Whether gross violation of rights and privacy of an innocent citizen of India and tarnishing his reputation is a minor mistake or serious misconduct?

(II) Why due publicity of revocation of suspension of the Sub Inspector was not given in the newspaper thereby informing the general public that even in a case of gross violation of rights and privacy of an innocent person, a police officer can get away very easily?

(III) Furthermore, once the respondents have already admitted that they have grossly violated the rights and privacy of an innocent person, still then the return is completely silent on the question of payment of compensation under Article 21 of the Constitution of India?

(IV) Whether any enquiry into the allegations made against the respondents no. 4 and 5 was made or not and if so, its conclusion.

(V) It is mentioned in the punishment order dated 14-10-2020, that although the petitioner was not arrested, but he was detained in police station. Whether detention of a person in a police station without his formal arrest was permissible, because according to the respondents no. 1 and 2, the petitioner was detained as a person with similar name was wanted in a criminal case which was registered in the year 2011.

(VI) It has also been mentioned in the suspension order, that the news pertaining to the detention and photographs of the petitioner were uploaded on Social Media. The respondents no.1 and 2 are further directed to clarify that which law permits them to upload the photographs of an accused on Social Media?

The Court appointed Sr. Adv Naval K. Gupta and Adv Prashant Sharma, Advocate  as Amicus curiae and also requested the Advocate General to address it on this issue.

Recently, the Kerala High Court had admitted a writ petition filed by a man about whom a Troll Video posted by Kerala Police in its official Facebook Page contending that this action of the police violates his fundamental right to privacy and is also in violation of guidelines issued under the provisions of the Kerala Police Act.

The Allahabad High Court directed the "forthwith" removal of the banners erected by the UP administration in Lucknow revealing the pictures, identities and addresses of persons alleged of committing violence during anti-CAA protests, after holding that the action of the State amounted to an "unwarranted infringement in privacy". The appeal filed by the State Government before the Supreme Court was referred to a three judge bench.

Case: Arun Sharma vs. State of M.P. [WP No.13057/2020]

Coram: Justice G.S. Ahluwalia

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