Search, seizure of journalists' phones, devices serious matter: SC

The Supreme Court on November 7 said that the search and seizure of phones or other digital devices belonging to journalists is a serious matter. The two-judge bench noted that media professionals may have details about their sources on their devices.

"See these are media professionals, they will have on their phones sources, contacts. So there must be some guidelines. This is serious," Justice Kaul orally observed, Bar and Bench reported.

Justice Dhulia said authorities are supposed to give you the hash value of the seized device.

The Centre argued that the authorities cannot be shut out from examining such devices as media cannot be above the law.

However, the court gave the government a month to suggest guidelines to govern such seizures.