The Supreme Court’s Pegasus probe panel on Thursday invited public response on alleged State surveillance through telephone tapping and suggestions on checks and balances and safeguarding of privacy through legislation.
Justice RV Raveendran headed the probe panel’s website has posted 11 questions seeking public response on the surveillance by the Governments and safeguarding the privacy of persons. The last day for response is March 31.
“The existing boundaries of State surveillance of personal and private communications of citizens, for the purposes of national security, defence of India, maintenance of public order, and prevention and investigation of offences, are well defined and understood? Are there any other purpose for which State surveillance may be justifiable and necessary?” asked the panel.
The second question sought response on the effectiveness of current Acts like the Telegraph Act of 1885 and Information Technology Act 2000 in checking the excessive use or misuse.
The panel sought response on the need for further laws to strengthen privacy and changes if needed in the existing prescribed formats used by agencies in surveillance.
“Should the State be obliged to record or disclose surveillance’ technology/access that is procured by it, available with it or used by it for the purpose of national security or defence of India? To whom should such disclosure be made and in what form? Should these records be assessable under the RIT or otherwise made public once a certain amount of time has elapsed?”