Panel working on guidelines on seizure of personal digital devices, Centre tells SC
- The Centre requests additional time to formulate guidelines for the search and seizure of electronic devices, such as phones and laptops, by investigative agencies.
Key Points
Setting Up a Committee
- Additional Solicitor General informs the bench that a committee is being established to develop the guidelines.
- The government assures the court that the guidelines will be released soon and welcomes suggestions from the petitioners.
Judicial Inquiry into Delay
- The bench questions the delay, emphasizing that the matter has been pending for over two years since the government received notice in March 2021.
- Justice Kaul urges the law officer to expedite the process and expresses the need for a resolution.
Digital India Act, 2023
- This proactive move by the Ministry of Electronics and InformationTechnology (MeitY) aligns with India's ambitious 'Digital India' initiative.
Objective
- To formulate evolvable rules that are consistent with the changing trends in technologies.
- It can be updated according to the needs of the country’s digital infrastructure.
- To offer an easily accessible adjudicatory mechanism for online civil and criminal offences.
- To deliver timely remedies to citizens, resolve cyber disputes, and enforce the rule of law on the internet.
Prelims Takeaway
- Digital India Act, 2023