Kerala HC seeks explanation on CMO’s bulk messages, flags privacy concerns

Kochi: The Kerala High Court on Tuesday sharply criticised the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO) over the alleged leak and use of government employee information sourced from the SPARK database, calling it a “prima facie invasion of privacy”.

Hearing a petition related to the dissemination of personal data, the court questioned how the Chief Minister’s Office accessed information from the Service and Payroll Administrative Repository for Kerala (SPARK) system and sought a detailed explanation from the state government.

The bench observed that there was a prior order clearly stating that personal information collected through official systems must not be used for purposes other than those authorised. “How did the Chief Minister obtain this personal information?” the court asked, terming the allegation serious.

Notice issued to the Kerala government

The High Court issued notice to the Kerala government, directing it to clarify the source of the data and the manner in which it was accessed. The court repeatedly sought to know how such information was obtained and used, noting that dissemination of unnecessary personal details could amount to a violation of privacy rights.

The bench directed the government to file an affidavit specifying how many messages were sent from the Chief Minister’s Office and to whom they were sent.

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The government assures no further messages

During the hearing, the government’s counsel informed the court that no further messages would be disseminated until the matter is taken up again. The court recorded the submission and said the issue would be reconsidered on Friday.

The case has sparked debate over data protection, privacy safeguards and the handling of sensitive employee information within Kerala’s e-governance systems.