Latest news with #Venkatesh
Hindustan Times
2 hours ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Phone tapping violates privacy rights, says Madras HC
The Madras high court on Wednesday held that phone tapping, even to detect a crime, amounts to the violation of an individual's fundamental right to privacy, unless it is strictly justified under a procedure established by law. Phone tapping violates privacy rights, says HC The court said that the existing provisions of the Telegraph Act and Telegraph Rules do not permit covert interception of phone calls or messages of an individual merely to detect the commission of a crime. Such surveillance, the court said, is permissible only in cases of public emergency or in the interest of public safety. Justice N Anand Venkatesh, accordingly, quashed an authorisation issued by the Union ministry of home affairs (MHA) in 2011 for tapping the phone of a Chennai resident involved in an alleged case of bribery and for making the results of such interception available to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). The judge emphasised that corruption cases must be investigated lawfully, and constitutional protections cannot be bypassed even in serious crimes. Justice Venkatesh said that a citizen's 'right to privacy is a fundamental right protected under Article 21 of the Constitution, as well as part of the broader freedoms guaranteed by Part III of the Constitution'. Citing the Supreme Court's judgments in cases such as Gobind vs the State of Madhya Pradesh, PUCL vs Union of India, and the landmark Puttaswamy judgement, the high court emphasised that privacy is an inherent and essential part of personal liberty, though it remains subject to reasonable restrictions under the Constitution. Justice Venkatesh also cited the observations made by former Supreme Court judge justice SK Kaul's concurring remarks in the Puttaswamy judgment and said the same underscored the need to recognize and adapt to evolving constitutional values, 'replacing outdated interpretations with a modern understanding of individual rights'. 'There can be no doubt that telephone tapping would infringe Article 21 unless such infringement has the sanction of a procedure established by law,' the high court said. The court quashed the phone tapping order against the petitioner, P Kishore, after noting that though the MHA had granted such permission saying it was for 'preventing incitement to the commission of an offence', any law enforcement agency was not empowered to 'resort to covert surveillance by tapping the mobile phones to obtain information regarding the commission of an alleged crime'. The MHA, in its affidavit filed before the court, had claimed that it had passed the phone tapping order 'in strict compliance' with section 5(2) of the Telegraph Act and rule 419-A of the Telegraph Rules which grant the Centre or state governments the power to intercept or detain messages during a public emergency or in the interest of public safety. Since the petitioner was having a conversation about committing an offence, it was intercepted in the interest of public safety preventing further incitement to the commission of an offence, MHA had said. Justice Venkatesh however, noted that in previous judgments, the Supreme Court clarified that the occurrence of public emergency or the interest of public safety could never be a secretive condition or situation. 'Either of the situations would be apparent to a reasonable person. Covert surveillance of the type conducted in this case definitely cannot fall within the aforesaid two situations contemplated under section 5(2) of the Act,' Justice Venkatesh said. The court noted that in the present case, the order for phone tapping was linked to a CBI investigation based on a first information report (FIR) registered in August 2011, in which Kishore was named as an accused. The FIR alleged that IRS officer Andasu Ravinder, then additional commissioner of Income Tax, had demanded a ₹ 50 lakh bribe from Kishore to help his company evade taxes. The bribe was allegedly routed through Ravinder's friend Uttam Bohra. Acting on this information, CBI intercepted Ravinder and Bohra near Ravinder's residence and recovered a carton containing ₹ 50 lakh. Neither of the two could explain the source of the cash, but Kishore was not present at the scene, and no money was found in his possession. Challenging the surveillance order, Kishore argued that the interception violated his fundamental right to privacy under Article 21 of the Constitution.
Time of India
5 hours ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Telephone tapping constitutes a violation of right to privacy: Madras HC
The Madras High Court declared telephone tapping a privacy violation. Justice Venkatesh cited Article 21 of the Constitution. He referenced the Telegraph Act's Section 5(2). The court quashed a Union government order authorizing the tapping of P Kishore's phone. This case involved bribery allegations. The judge noted violations of Telegraph Rules. Intercepted conversations cannot be used as evidence. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads The Madras High Court on Wednesday held that telephone tapping constitutes a violation of the right to privacy unless justified by a procedure established by law. Justice N Anand Venkatesh also observed that the right to privacy is now an integral part of the right to life and personal liberty guaranteed under Article 21 of the judge said section 5(2) of the Telegraph Act authorises interception of telephones on the occurrence of a public emergency or in the interests of public safety. Both these contingencies were not secretive conditions or situations. Either of the situations would be apparent to a reasonable laid down in paragraph 28 of the decision of the Apex court in People's Union for Civil Liberties, it was only when the above two situations exist that the authority may pass an order directing interception of messages after recording its satisfaction that it was necessary or expedient so to do in the interest of the sovereignty and integrity of India, the security of the State, friendly relations with foreign States, public order or for preventing incitement to the commission of an offence, he a petition filed by P Kishore, Managing Director of Everonn Education Limited, the judge quashed an order of the union government, which authorised tapping of the mobile phone of the petitioner, in connection with a case relating to bribery and corruption, probed by the CBI, involving an Assistant Commissioner of Income judge said in the instant case, the impugned order dated August 12, 2011 does not fall either within the rubric of "public emergency" or "in the interests of public safety" as explained by the Supreme Court in the case of People's Union for Civil Liberties. The facts disclose that it was a covert operation/secretive situation for detection of crime, which would not be apparent to any reasonable the law presently stands, a situation of this nature does not fall within the four corners of Section 5(2) of the Act as expounded by the Supreme Court in the case of People's Union for Civil Liberties, which has been approved by the Constitution Bench of the SC in K S Puttaswamy case, the judge judge said the authorities have also contravened Rule 419-A(17) of the Telegraph Rules by failing to place the intercepted material before the Review Committee within the stipulated time to examine as to whether the interception was made in compliance with Section 5(2) of the a consequence, the impugned order must necessarily be set aside as unconstitutional and one without jurisdiction. Besides violating Article 21, it was also ultra vires Section 5(2) of the Act besides being in violation of the mandatory provisions of Rule 419-A of the Rules, the judge judge said it follows that the intercepted conversations collected pursuant to the impugned order in violation of Section 5(2) of the Act and Rule 419-A(17) of the Rules shall not be used for any purposes judge said it was, however, made clear that the above direction shall have no bearing on the other material that has been collected by the CBI subsequent to and independent of the intercepted call records, which shall be considered by the trial court on its own merits without being influenced by any of the observations made in this order.
The Hindu
14 hours ago
- Entertainment
- The Hindu
Telugu cinema 2025: At the half-year mark, ‘Sankranthiki Vasthunam' and ‘Court' are among the few that stand out
We are halfway through 2025, and it is déjà vu for Telugu cinema — a largely underwhelming summer once again. Of the 90-odd theatrical releases between January and June, only Sankranthiki Vasthunam, Court, and MAD Squareare clear hits in the trade circuits. A handful — Thandel, Kuberaa, HIT 3, Subham, and Single — drew early interest. While industry watchers might argue that the success rate has historically hovered around 10–15% of the releases, the middle ground is fast disappearing. Films are either hits or washouts. Show cancellations due to low footfalls even on opening weekends have become common. Quick OTT turnarounds, weak storytelling, production delays, shifting release dates of big-budget films chasing pan-India success, and persistent piracy are all to blame. The Sankranti season, usually a box office goldmine, offered a sobering reality check. Game Changer, Shankar's long-delayed film starring Ram Charan, bombed despite its scale and multilingual push, undone by a stale, formulaic narrative. Daaku Maharaaj, directed by Bobby Kolli, fared better, continuing Balakrishna's winning streak. Still, it was not without controversy — its 'Dabidi dibidi' track featuring Urvashi Rautela drew flak online. Collective laughter therapy It came as little surprise that director Anil Ravipudi and Venkatesh's Sankranthiki Vasthunam emerged as the season's winner. After a string of high-voltage action films, audiences welcomed the return of a mid-budget family entertainer. Ravipudi and Venkatesh's third collaboration — after F2 and F3 — delivered enough laughs to overlook the occasional flat joke or underwhelming VFX. Reportedly made on a ₹50 crore budget, the film is said to have grossed nearly ₹300 crore. Ironically, both Sankranthiki Vasthunam and Game Changer were produced by Dil Raju, marking a rare week of simultaneous success and failure. Among February releases, Chandoo Mondeti's Thandel stood out, drawing attention for reuniting Naga Chaitanya and Sai Pallavi after Love Story, and for its soundtrack by Devi Sri Prasad. Most other titles barely registered. Holding court At a time when most films fade after their opening weekend, debut director Ram Jagadeesh's Court: State vs A Nobody proved that sharp writing and strong performances still hold weight. The courtroom drama, led by Priyadarshi as an underdog lawyer fighting for a wrongly accused teenager, struck a chord. A tender love story between newcomers Harsh Roshan and Sridevi, along with Vijai Bulganin's evocative score, added to its appeal. With a modest budget under ₹10 crore, the film reportedly earned over ₹50 crore. It also marked a comeback for actor Sivaji, who played the antagonist with conviction. Weeks later, Sailesh Kolanu's HIT: The Third Case opened strong, crossing the ₹100 crore mark, with Nani fronting the third instalment of the HIT-verse. While it could not maintain momentum post the first weekend, Nani had reason to celebrate — both Court and HIT 3, produced under his banner, were commercial wins. May 2024 had seen a near-total blackout in theatres due to elections and the IPL. Hopes were higher for May 2025, with big titles like Hari Hara Veera Mallu and Kingdom initially slated for release. But both were postponed, leaving cinemas once again without the summer footfall they had counted on. Still, a few smaller titles broke through. Samantha Ruth Prabhu's debut production Subham, a horror-comedy directed by Praveen Kandregula, stood out for its quirky tone and ensemble cast. Meanwhile, Single, a comedy drama starring Sree Vishnu and Vennela Kishore, became a surprise hit. Larger dreams, local disconnect In the pre-pandemic years, April and May reliably drew family audiences to theatres, with star-led films timed to coincide with school and college vacations. But post Baahubali, and especially after the nationwide success of Pushpa and RRR, producers increasingly pursued big-budget, multilingual projects, often in two parts and headlined by A-list stars. The result: inflated budgets, extended timelines, and a growing disconnect from core Telugu audiences. After a tepid summer, the industry pinned its hopes on Sekhar Kammula's Kuberaa. The social thriller, starring Nagarjuna, Dhanush, and Rashmika Mandanna, closed the first half of 2025 on a high. According to the makers, it crossed ₹100 crore in global collections, largely buoyed by strong responses in the Telugu states and overseas markets. Looking ahead, big-ticket releases like Akhanda 2, Vishwambara, The RajaSaab, Hari Hara Veera Mallu, and Kingdom are slated for the second half of the year. Still, for sustained momentum, the industry will need smaller, content-driven successes — films in the vein of Committee Kurrollu, 35: Chinna Katha Kaadu, and KA, which brought unexpected joy to 2024. Hopeful contenders include The Girlfriend, directed by Rahul Ravindran and starring Rashmika Mandanna, and Telusu Kada, the debut feature by Neeraja Kona.
New Indian Express
6 days ago
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Madras High Court junks plea to ban online film review, cites free speech
CHENNAI: The Madras High Court has held that it can't prohibit online movie reviews as it will amount to curbing the fundamental right to free speech and expression. Dismissing the petition filed by Tamil Nadu Active Film Producers' Association seeking prohibition of online movie reviews for three days from the date of release, Justice N Anand Venkatesh on Thursday said such an order cannot be issued by the court as it is unsustainable. He also remarked that if any such relief, as sought by the petitioners, is granted, it will amount to curbing the right to free speech and expression which is a fundamental right enshrined in the Constitution, and review of the movies on social media is such a fundamental right. Justice Venkatesh noted that even judges are not spared from criticism on social media. In the age of fast-growing social media, none could be possibly prevented from posting negative reviews on movies, he said, adding, however, the people shall weigh a movie by its contents and shall not let them be carried away by the online reviews on social media.
The Hindu
6 days ago
- Climate
- The Hindu
Karnataka rains: Minister seeks damage report from Kodagu DC
Minister in-charge of Kodagu N.S. Boseraju on Thursday directed the district administration to submit a comprehensive report on rain-related damages in the Karnataka district. He said the matter would be taken up at the Cabinet meeting scheduled for July 2, where necessary funds will be sanctioned based on the report. Speaking to reporters at Harangi after inspecting rain-hit areas, Mr. Boseraju said that Kodagu had been under red alert for several days due to incessant rains that caused widespread damage to roads, bridges, and houses. 'Fortunately, there has been no loss of life, thanks to timely precautionary measures,' he said. The Minister stressed that while rainfall in Kodagu is vital for southern Karnataka, the current downpour has led to severe local destruction. 'In the upcoming Karnataka Development Programme (KDP) meeting, we will assess the extent of damage to homes, roads, and infrastructure for carrying out immediate relief measures and planning permanent solutions,' he added. He noted that earlier, the release of relief funds required specific criteria to be met. Now, however, funds will be disbursed based on the actual scale of damage. 'Officers have been directed to submit the report at the earliest. Once received, it will be discussed with the Chief Minister, the Revenue Minister, and departmental secretaries to facilitate timely fund allocation.' Referring to the closure of the Ramaswamy Kanive hanging bridge, which connects Kushalnagar in Kodagu with Periyapatna in Mysuru, Mr. Boseraju said steps would be taken to reopen the bridge in coordination with Animal Husbandry Minister and MLA M. Venkatesh. Earlier in the day, the Minister, accompanied by MLA Mantar Gowda, visited several rain-affected locations. He inspected the flow of the Cauvery river at Kushalnagar, visited a damaged house belonging to a local resident, Chandrashekhar, and assessed damage to the hanging bridge near Kushalnagar and another bridge near Rangasamudra. He said the monsoon had arrived unusually early — in late May — this year, resulting in considerable damage across the district. With more rain expected over the next two months, he directed officials to take adequate precautionary measures in flood-prone areas. Mr. Boseraju also assured that the district administration has sufficient funds in its PD account to manage disaster response, and that compensation has already been distributed to those whose houses were damaged. Permanent reconstruction works will begin after the monsoon subsides, he said. A report on the total rain damage will be submitted to the Chief Minister, along with a request for additional funds, he added. Deputy Commissioner Venkat Raja, ZP CEO Anand Prakash Meena, Superintendent of Police K. Ramarajan, and other officials were present during the visit.
