Supreme Court Rejects Plea for Digital Monitoring of MPs, Citing Privacy Concerns
In a recent development, the Supreme Court of India has dismissed a petition urging the digital monitoring of all elected Members of Parliament (MPs) in the country for enhanced governance. The petitioner, Dr. Surinder Nath Kundra, argued that MPs should be subject to round-the-clock digital surveillance via CCTV, with citizens having access to the footage on their phones.
A bench comprising Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud, Justice JB Pardiwala, and Justice Manoj Misra rejected the plea, emphasizing the fundamental right to privacy for elected MPs. The court stated that such digital monitoring is typically reserved for convicted felons to prevent them from evading justice.
During the hearing, Chief Justice Chandrachud warned of imposing costs of ₹5 lakh if the petitioner persisted with the case, cautioning against similar pleas in the future. The court highlighted that elected MPs are public servants but stressed that making sweeping allegations against all MPs is unfounded.
In response to the petitioner’s argument that MPs should be continuously monitored by CCTV, the Chief Justice questioned the practicality and ethical implications, asking if MPs should be subjected to surveillance during their personal family time. The petitioner’s counsel asserted that MPs, as public servants, should be held accountable through constant monitoring.
The Chief Justice countered, stating that such an approach would undermine the democratic process, where laws are enacted by elected representatives in Parliament. He questioned whether individual citizens, by digitally monitoring MPs, sought to bypass the established democratic framework.
The court’s decision underscores the delicate balance between transparency and privacy in the context of elected representatives. While acknowledging the role of MPs as public servants, the Supreme Court has reiterated the importance of upholding their right to privacy and maintaining the democratic principles that govern the legislative process.
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