JUDGMENT :

1. This writ petition has been filed as a Public Interest Litigation [PIL] by one Shri Jade Jeremiah Lyngdoh.

2. The issue in this writ petition centers around two applications softwares (commonly referred as 'APP'), namely, CORONTINE APP and STAY SAFE MEGHALAYA APP, which were in operation at the height of the COVED pandemic, but has since been discontinued by the State. The specific contention of the writ petitioner is with regard to privacy of the citizens - particularly those residing in Meghalaya-being compromised due to lack of protection of personal sensitive data of those citizens collected by means of the two 'APPS'.

3. Undoubtedly, data privacy safeguards are sine qua non for the purpose of protecting the privacy of citizens, particularly when an 'APP' such as a CORONTINE APP or a STAY SAFE MEGHALAYA APP is required to be installed by a citizen at the instance of the State. Although it appears during the course of hearing of the instant matter that these two 'APPS' have been discontinued, it is the bounden duty, nay, an absolute obligation on the part of the concerned authority of the State to preserve, protect and safeguard the private and personal data of its ci