Karnataka HC Rejects PIL Claiming NoBroker Technologies Forces Employees To Surrender Their Digital Privacy, Snoops Their Personal Browsing

The Karnataka High Court has dismissed a public interest litigation filed claiming that NoBroker Technologies Solutions Pvt. Ltd forces its employees to surrender their digital privacy under the threat of losing access to work tools.A division bench of Chief Justice N V Anjaria and Justice M I Arun dismissed the petition filed by one MD Imran Reza stating, “This Court is not inclined to entertain the petition. Any individual violation of privacy rights may be a cause of action for initiating appropriate legal proceedings as may be permissible in law, in accordance with law.” Reza had submitted that employees of the respondent-Company are required to work from home and are further directed to install a mandatory software on their personal devices, because of which certain unauthorized modifications are done in these devices which has resulted in private access. It was claimed that the modifications enable the company to monitor and control the personal browsing activities of the employees without obtaining explicit consent or disclosing the extent of data access. Thus it was prayed for a direction to issue permanent injunction from installing or enforcing any software or files access, against the respondent Company. Direct the company to carry out independent audit regarding data handling procedures etc and establish an External Oversight Committee. Moreover, prosecute the company as it has committed a criminal breach of trust. The bench on going through the records said, “Firstly, the respondent is a private company. In all normal circumstances, as also in this case, writ petition under Article 226 of the Constitution, would not lie and no writ could be issued.” Further, it held “Petition is based on bald allegations without any specific or concrete instance, the petitioner has made general prayers which are too omnibus to be considered for alleged privacy violations.” Accordingly it dismissed the petition. Case Title: MD Imran Reza AND NoBroker Technologies Solutions Pvt. LtdCase No: WRIT PETITION NO. 29555 OF 2024 Citation No: 2025 LiveLaw (Kar) 18Appearance: MD Imran Reza party in person.Click Here To Read/Download Order

Karnataka HC Rejects PIL Claiming NoBroker Technologies Forces Employees To Surrender Their Digital Privacy, Snoops Their Personal Browsing

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