New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Friday refused to hear a PIL seeking digital monitoring of activities of all elected MPs and MLAs for better transparency. CJI D.Y. A bench headed by Chandrachud said, “We cannot monitor all the MPs and MLAs of the country. There is also something called right to privacy. We can’t put some (electronic) chips on their feet or hands to monitor what they do.”
Expressing surprise over the petition filed for 24-hour CCTV surveillance of all the MLAs, the bench said that elected representatives also have their own personal lives. When the petitioner asked for 15 minutes to present his case, the apex court warned him of a fine of Rs 5 lakh. The court said, “Rs 5 lakh will be charged and if we dismiss the petition, it will be given as arrears of land revenue. This is a waste of time.” Appearing in person, the petitioner argued that MPs and MLAs are salaried representatives under the Representation of the People Act who represent the opinion of the people in making laws, plans and policies and act as rulers after the elections. Unhappy with the relief sought in the PIL, the Supreme Court refused to entertain the petition filed under Article 32 of the Constitution. However, it did not impose any penalty on the petitioner.
PIL demanding digital surveillance of MPs and MLAs rejected
