Kerala High Court to Decide if Government Can Message CMDRF Donors En Masse

The Kerala government on Tuesday sought permission from the Kerala High Court to send bulk messages expressing gratitude to contributors of the Chief Minister’s Distress Relief Fund (CMDRF). The move comes in the backdrop of houses being constructed and allotted to victims of the Wayanad disaster, with the government intending to acknowledge the support extended by donors. The court indicated that it would consider the request if a formal application is filed in this regard.

The observation was made when petitions filed by Rasheed Ahammed, an associate professor at KTM College, Kollam, and Anil Kumar K. M., a clerical assistant in the General Administration Department, Thiruvananthapuram, came up for hearing. The petitioners have raised concerns over the alleged misuse of personal data submitted for official purposes. They argued that such data had been accessed and used to send promotional messages ahead of the upcoming assembly elections.

According to the petitioners, the use of contact details provided in official capacities for mass communication unrelated to specific administrative requirements could amount to a breach of privacy. They contended that government databases should not be repurposed for messaging that may have political overtones, particularly during an election cycle. The plea seeks safeguards to prevent any alleged misuse of personal information collected by the state.

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In response, the state government maintained that the communications in question were administrative in nature and not politically motivated. It submitted that messages sent on behalf of the chief minister to government employees regarding the grant of arrears of dearness allowance and reinstatement of house building advances were tied to budgetary assurances. The government argued that such communication could not, by any stretch, be termed political.

The state further contended that the messages related strictly to service benefits and emoluments granted to employees and contained no references to any political party. Officials emphasised that expressions of gratitude to CMDRF donors were intended as acknowledgements of public support for rehabilitation efforts, particularly in disaster-affected areas like Wayanad.

The High Court has not issued a final ruling on the matter but indicated that a formal request from the government would be examined. The case highlights the growing legal scrutiny surrounding data usage, privacy concerns and the boundaries of official communication, especially in the context of election seasons and public welfare initiatives.

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