Orissa High Court: A Division Bench of Mohammad Rafiq, CJ and Dr B.R. Sarangi, J. addressed a Public Interest Litigation wherein the concern with regard to publicising the identity of COVID-19 positive persons was recorded.
Petitioner while preferring the PIL alleged that several cases had been reported in the State of Orissa wherein the identity of the COVID-19 Positive persons who are under treatment or under quarantine had been publicized in intra-departmental communications and various media platforms including social media, which is contrary to the Government advisory.
Bench on perusal of the above issued notice to the opposite parties.
Identity of COVID-19 positive persons
Further, the Court directed the respondents to ensure that identity of COVID-19 positive persons, admitted to COVID centres- any Government Hospital/private hospital or any quarantine centre should not be disclosed either in any intra-departmental communication or in any media platform including social media.
Advocate General assured the Court that necessary steps shall be taken in respect to the Government guidelines and the order of this Court.
Matter to be listed on 4th June, 2020.[Ananga Kumar Otta v. UOI, 2020 SCC OnLine Ori 426 , decided on 28-05-2020]
