Opinion: How far can media invade privacy on Digvijaya-Amrita Rai affair?
4 May 2014 9:08 AM IST
DC discusses if reporting on Digvijay-Amrita Rai affair breaches privacy
One of the photos of Digvijay Singh and Amrita Rai that went viral
Sexual freedom is not exploitation
Vasanth Kannabiran, Founder Member, Asmita
Hyderabad: The tendency to target personal lives is reprehensible. If a person has made false claims to moral purity and made declarations that promote his image, then exposing him would make sense, like the countless godmen whose depravity is not even worth condemning.
But human relationships must not be subjected to this vulgarity. It is ironic that when a couple is frank and open about relationships, they are targeted. It is as if our society is immature and insecure. Who would believe, this is the land of the Kama- sutra?
I think that any relationship between consenting adults is permissible. The issue of adultery is outmoded and archaic. Its only use is if the offended spouse decides to take action.
The problem arises only if there is power or authority involved in forcing a partner into a relationship. However, in the case of Digvijay Singh and Amrita Rai, both have accepted their relationship and even Amrita Rai’s husband has no issues with it. He even tweeted saying that he was aware of the situation and that after separation, Amrita would have the right to choose a partner for herself.
For the public or media to start moral policing is extremely dangerous for the freedom of citizens. It is important to distinguish sexual freedom from sexual exploitation.
It is dangerous to licence social policing for political gain. A married woman is not a piece of property, but a thinking sentient human being. We must move this debate out of the dark ages.
I think age is irrelevant and to bring his age into question is ageism of the worst kind. We are now living in a world where there is a generation gap between every age group as well. So one has to start being progressive and adapt to the changing times.
Digvijay’s acts not legally acceptable
C.V.L. Narsimha Rao, Senior advocate, Raksha President
The issue of “big persons” or celebrities is not a private issue because they struggle and work hard to be in the limelight and be in public eye.
As such, their acts and deeds have to be in accordance with the law, norms and principles of society. In case of Digvijay Singh, he had claimed that he was a person with an open mind and it was not his intention to keep the affair a secret because he wanted to marry Amrita Rai.
In fact, both Digvijay Singh and Amrita Rai did not intend to or volunteer to give legal sanctity to their affair. It was out of compulsion and only after the appearance of their intimacy on social media networks that they are justifying themselves. In fact as on this day, Amrita Rai is someone else’s wife.
The intimacy, which is unwarranted, can be questioned and Digvijay Singh can be booked under law if Amrita Rai’s husband initiates prosecution.
They cannot claim that the divorce is going to happen because it is mutual consent. Even for mutual consent divorces, there is a mandatory period of six months, fixed by the courts, for exploring the chances of reconciliation of the estranged couple.
In these circumstances, the acts of Digvijay Singh in particular are not acceptable under law. More particularly, Amrita Rai wanted to keep the affair a secret as she had filed a police complaint stating that her private pictures were exposed without her knowledge. Therefore, it is the duty of the celebrities and important people to follow the provisions of the law, if not respect the social customs etc.
In this case, Digvijay Singh, along with Amrita Rai, should have addressed a press conference explaining the circumstances of their intimacy. In any case, a third person cannot openly, legally, claim that he is going to marry another’s wife.
Next Story
