white_paper_on_data_protection_in_india_171127_final_v2
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5. Given that the Appellate Tribunal has already been provided with the mandate to hear<br />
appeals from adjudicat<strong>in</strong>g officers under the IT Act, it may be worthwhile to propose<br />
the Appellate Tribunal as an appellate forum for any decisi<strong>on</strong> passed by a <strong>data</strong><br />
protecti<strong>on</strong> authority. This, of course, will be subject to suitable amendments to the<br />
TRAI Act al<strong>on</strong>g with the c<strong>on</strong>stituti<strong>on</strong> of specialised benches hav<strong>in</strong>g the requisite<br />
technical knowledge and expertise as required to achieve this purpose.<br />
6. In additi<strong>on</strong> to the powers described <strong>in</strong> the previous secti<strong>on</strong> <strong>on</strong> ‗Data Protecti<strong>on</strong><br />
Authority‘ (Part IV, Chapter 2 of the White Paper), the <strong>data</strong> protecti<strong>on</strong> authority may be<br />
given the power to impose civil penalties as well as order the default<strong>in</strong>g party to pay<br />
compensati<strong>on</strong>.<br />
7. Specifically, <strong>in</strong> case of compensati<strong>on</strong> claims, the c<strong>on</strong>sumer fora set up under the<br />
C<strong>on</strong>sumer Protecti<strong>on</strong> Act, 1986 (COPRA) typically act as avenues for fil<strong>in</strong>g such<br />
claims. However, it is relevant to note that given the vast number of <strong>data</strong> c<strong>on</strong>trollers<br />
operat<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> the Indian market and the number of potential <strong>data</strong> protecti<strong>on</strong> violati<strong>on</strong><br />
claims that may be brought by <strong>in</strong>dividuals, the c<strong>on</strong>sumer fora, especially at the district<br />
and state levels, may not have the requisite capacity as well as the technical knowledge<br />
and expertise to adjudicate <strong>on</strong> compensati<strong>on</strong> claims aris<strong>in</strong>g from such violati<strong>on</strong>s.<br />
Moreover, if all compensati<strong>on</strong> claims lie with the c<strong>on</strong>sumer fora, it may not <strong>in</strong>centivise<br />
<strong>in</strong>dividuals to file compla<strong>in</strong>ts with the <strong>data</strong> protecti<strong>on</strong> authority for enforcement and<br />
<strong>in</strong>stead file claims relat<strong>in</strong>g to compensati<strong>on</strong> with the c<strong>on</strong>sumer fora.<br />
8. C<strong>on</strong>sequently, it may be proposed that matters <strong>in</strong> which compensati<strong>on</strong> claims for <strong>in</strong>jury<br />
or damage does not exceed a prescribed threshold, may lie with the <strong>data</strong> protecti<strong>on</strong><br />
authority. Further, an appeal from an order of the <strong>data</strong> protecti<strong>on</strong> authority grant<strong>in</strong>g<br />
such compensati<strong>on</strong> and matters <strong>in</strong> which compensati<strong>on</strong> claims for <strong>in</strong>jury or damage<br />
exceeds such threshold may lie with the Nati<strong>on</strong>al Commissi<strong>on</strong> Disputes Redressal<br />
Commissi<strong>on</strong> (Nati<strong>on</strong>al Commissi<strong>on</strong>). This may be undertaken pursuant to requisite<br />
amendments to the COPRA and by sett<strong>in</strong>g up benches with the requisite technical skills<br />
and expertise.<br />
3.5 Questi<strong>on</strong>s<br />
1. What are your views <strong>on</strong> the above?<br />
2. Should the <strong>data</strong> protecti<strong>on</strong> authority have the power to hear and adjudicate compla<strong>in</strong>ts<br />
from <strong>in</strong>dividuals whose <strong>data</strong> protecti<strong>on</strong> rights have been violated?<br />
3. Where the <strong>data</strong> protecti<strong>on</strong> authority is given the power to adjudicate compla<strong>in</strong>ts from<br />
<strong>in</strong>dividuals, what should be the qualificati<strong>on</strong>s and expertise of the adjudicat<strong>in</strong>g officer<br />
appo<strong>in</strong>ted by the <strong>data</strong> protecti<strong>on</strong> authority to hear such matters?<br />
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