AGENCIES / ALLAHABAD
The Allahabad High Court has expressed its dsapproval over the Uttar Pradesh government’s decision to put up hoardings of reported anti-CAA protestors with their photo, name, and addresses across Lucknow on Sunday, saying that it was “an absolute encroachment on personal liberty of individuals”.
A Division Bench of the court headed by Chief Justice Govind Mathur took suo motu cognizance of the case.
It resumed hearing the case at 3 pm, but reserved its verdict for Monday.
Earlier in the day, the court said it hoped that good sense would prevail on the state.
The Lucknow administration, on Friday, had put up about 100 hoardings with photographs of the anti-CAA protesters.
The names, photographs and residential addresses of suspects were listed on the hoardings, sparking fear among those named on the hoardings. They have also been asked to pay for the damages to public and private property within a stipulated time, or have their properties attached by the district administration.
The move has attracted strong reactions from protesters, political parties, ordinary citizens, legal experts, and social activists, who slammed the idea of public shaming in this manner.
In one particular photograph put up on the hoardings, the photograph of a minor is also seen.
The family of the minor said that they are preparing to seek legal redressal in the matter.
“The hoarding has been put up by the ‘orders of the District Magistrate and Police Commissioner’ and they owe an explanation to us,” said a family member.
Senior advocate KK Rai said at an initial hearing at 10 am, Chief Justice Govind Mathur had made some strong remarks. “By pasting pictures like this, you are impinging on privacy, respect and freedom, and this appears to be an illegal move. Before the advocate general comes, it would be better if the government acts to rectify this,” he quoted Justice Mathur as saying.