Be it the searches at NewsClick, BBC, the Wire, or at the homes of journalists in several states over the last few years, the seizures of journalist’s digital devices have often underlined two issues – pertaining to journalistic privilege and the fundamental right to privacy.
This was what the Supreme Court also hinted at on Tuesday, when it expressed concern over the “arbitrary seizure” of digital devices, calling it “very dangerous” and asking the Centre to frame guidelines to govern such actions by agencies. While the court was hearing a petition seeking such guidelines by the Foundation for Media Professionals, 18 journalist bodies had made similar demands in a letter to the Chief Justice of India last month.
