KOCHI: The state government changed their stand in the Kerala High Court on the issue of collecting Call Details Record (CDR) of COVID patients. The government informed the court that they are not collecting the phone details of patients and instead are collecting only the tower location. This is to find the contact list and to make sure that the patients are following the quarantine guidelines. The government asserted this to the plea filed by opposition leader Ramesh Chennithala challenging the decision to collect the CDR of COVID-19 patients and those in quarantine at their houses or hospitals.

The decision of the government was to collect the full call details record of COVID patients. The court said that there was no problem if the tower location alone is enough but asked the government to file a detailed affidavit on Friday if other documents are needed. The court raised some technical doubts including whether only the tower location of individuals would be obtained. The court asked the government to give an explanation after including everything. The case will be considered again on Friday.

Chennithala approached the court citing the Supreme Court judgments in the Muthuswamy case and saying that the government's stand was unconstitutional. His main allegation was that the police collecting the phone call details of COVID patients was a violation of the freedom of patients. The Supreme Court itself has made it clear that privacy is a fundamental right.