: The Delhi High Court has issued notice to the Delhi Government in a Public Interest Litigation seeking protection of the privacy of persons tested positive of COVID-19.){kind=link}
New Delhi (ILNS): The Delhi High Court has issued notice to the Delhi Government in a Public Interest Litigation seeking protection of the privacy of persons tested positive of COVID-19.
A divisional bench of Justices Hima Kohli and Subramonium Prasad while hearing the matter through video conferencing issued notice to the Delhi and the Central government on a limited issue stating that “We are already examining these aspects in another plea and there is no sense in duplication.”
The petition was filed by Kush Kalra seeking directions to formulate new guidelines removing the requirement for pasting of posters outside houses/ apartments of Covid-19 positive persons in home isolation.
The petition alleged that “pasting poster outside houses of persons who test positive and are required to stay in home isolation is a serious infringement of the Fundamental Right to Privacy.”
Mr. Kalra further alleged that “Besides, the names of persons who test positive are being freely circulated to RWAs by officials of health department of respondents which are further being circulated on RWA Whatsapp Groups.”
It has been contended that this is leading to stigmatization and drawing of unnecessary attention when in reality Covid-19 persons ought to be given privacy to cope with and recover from the illness in peace, away from prying eyes. “Rather, they are being made the center of public attention of over-inquisitive neighbors and busy-bodies in their colonies,” said the petition.
-ILNS