Kochi, Feb 24 (NationPress) The Kerala High Court expressed strong disapproval on Tuesday regarding the actions of the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO), as allegations emerged that it improperly accessed and utilized personal information of government employees to send out promotional messages. The Court highlighted that this situation represents a significant breach of privacy.

While reviewing a petition that challenges the purported use of employees' contact information sourced from official databases, the Court inquired about how the CMO acquired information from the Service Payroll Administrative Repository for Kerala (SPARK).

It emphasized that previous directives clearly indicated that personal data gathered for official use must not be repurposed for any other intentions.

“What is the source of these private details reaching the Chief Minister?” the Court queried, labeling the allegations as serious.

The Bench noted that the government's actions, at first glance, suggested a violation of privacy.

It also pointed out that the State was distributing information that individuals had not requested.

The Court sought clarification from the government regarding the data’s source and the authority under which it was accessed.

A notice was issued to the State government, demanding a comprehensive explanation on the matter.

During the proceedings, the government pleader assured the Court that no further messages would be disseminated until the case was revisited.

Noting this submission, the Court instructed that no messages should be sent in the interim.

The High Court further ordered the government to submit a detailed affidavit outlining how many messages were dispatched from the CMO and to how many recipients.

This affidavit is anticipated to elucidate the processes through which the data was procured and utilized.

The case is set for further review on Friday.

These observations are particularly significant given the allegations that bulk messages promoting the State government’s accomplishments were sent to government employees in advance of the 2026 Assembly elections.

The Court's initial finding of a privacy infringement puts the spotlight on data management practices within the government.

Curiously, this situation has arisen under a Communist government, despite their national leaders frequently advocating for data privacy.

Last week, the High Court also criticized a state-sponsored survey that was halted after it was revealed that the ruling CPI-M party was aware of the survey's details even before the state government officially announced it.