Why violate privacy of accused: Hyderabad HC

Hyderabad: Expressing displeasure at the police for parading the accused during media conferences and allowing publication of their photographs, the Hyderabad High Court directed the Director General of Police of AP to explain by June 26 under how this was being allowed.

A division bench comprising Justice C.V. Nagarjuna Reddy and Justice G. Shyam Prasad was dealing with a petition by Mr K. Sagar of Adinarayanap-uram of Prakasam district questioning the action of Atm-akur police of Kurnool district in parading his mother at a press conference and humiliating her in front of mediapersons.

Maintaining that the Right to Privacy is a fundamental right, the bench said the police has no power to parade the accused before the media as it would amount to infringement of the personal dignity. Police has no power to indulge or allow such acts, Justice Nagarjuna Reddy said.

The petitioner named the superintendents of police of Prakasam and Kurnool districts, Atmakur DSP Madhava Reddy, and seven constables of Chirala II town and Nandikotkur police stations as respondents. Counsel for the petitioners placed the photographs of the press conference published in newspapers.