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NewsClick has sought the issuance of guidelines regarding the search, seizure, examination, and preservation of digital devices and data seized by law enforcement agencies, in response to recent raids conducted by the Delhi Police
Supreme Court today reprimanded NewsClick, an online media portal, for directly approaching it with a plea seeking guidelines on seizure of personal digital devices.
A bench of Justices BR Gavai and Sandeep Mehta told Senior Advocate Kapil Sibal, appearing for NewsClick, "We do not appreciate you coming directly to us..".
"But such pleas have been entertained before...government should come out with guidelines", Sibal said in response.
The bench then went on to issue notice in the plea and tag it with a similar PIL pending before it.
In the other PIL, Supreme Court was informed last month that Centre would come up with guidelines governing the search and seizure of personal digital devices by police and central agencies within 6 weeks.
ASG SV Raju, appearing for the government, had told a bench of Justices SK Kaul and Sudhanshu Dhulia that deliberation with forensic laboratory experts were going on and it would take some time.
Supreme Court had earlier asked the Central government to frame said guidelines without any further delay.
The instant PIL had been filed by Foundation for Media Professionals. Last month, court had given the Central government a month's time to suggest guidelines to govern such seizures.
Senior Advocate Ramakrishnan had told the bench that guidelines were needed as copies of necessary data could be taken instead of complete seizure.
"300 journalists were raided in NewsClick case. This is an absolute an assault. Some interim guidelines should be there", the senior counsel added.
Case Title: M/s PPK NewsClick Private Limited & Anr. vs. Union of India & Ors.
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