Supreme Court: Seeks Centre's Response on PIL Against Police Revealing Accused Identities

The Supreme Court has sought the Centre's response to a PIL against police revealing accused identities online.

This development is significant for practitioners as it raises concerns about the use of social media by law enforcement agencies and the potential impact on the rights of accused persons. The PIL seeks directions to states to immediately remove posts from police social media accounts that reveal the faces or identities of accused persons or show them being treated in a dehumanising manner.

The relevant laws involved are likely to be related to privacy, dignity, and human rights. Key parties involved include the Supreme Court, the Centre, all states and Union Territories, social media platforms Meta and X, and the petitioner Hemendra Patel. Practitioners should take note that this development highlights the need for clear guidelines regulating the use of social media by law enforcement agencies.