The Delhi High Court on Monday granted more time to the Central Government to file its status report with regard to a petition challenging the new privacy policy of WhatsApp, contending that it violates the Right of Privacy of citizens.
A single-judge bench of Justice Sanjeev Sachdeva granted four more weeks to the Centre and slated the matter for further hearing on April 19.
The said directions came in after Central government standing counsel Kirtiman Singh informed the bench that the government is examining the said issue and more time is required to file a status report in this regard.
The court was hearing a plea by lawyer Chaitanya Rohilla challenging the new privacy policy of WhatsApp, contending that it violates the Right of Privacy of citizens.
The plea has been filed through Advocate Manohar Lal who has alleged that WhatsApp has put a “Damocles’ sword on its users” to accept its new privacy policy. The updated policy virtually scrutinizes the personal profile of a user, he said.
The plea has also said that the new norms also jeopardize national security by sharing, transmitting and storing the users’ data in some another country.
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On January 25, Additional Solicitor General Chetan Sharma had sought time to place the WhatsApp response on the queries of the government on its new privacy policy.
The ASG told the Court that Centre has taken a strong note of the New Privacy Policy, which is giving differential treatment to its Indian users and is a cause of concern for the government.