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| Telephone-tapping is part of Indian politics | | 'Special' persons in J&K under technical watch | |
B L KAK
NEW DELHI, JULY 11: Nearly 1500 'special' persons in Jammu and Kashmir--majority of them in the Valley--are said to be under 'technical watch'. In plain language, telephones of these 'special' persons are tapped. According to reliable sources, secessionist leaders outnumber others listed for 'technical watch'.
Interestingly, about 200 'special' persons of three mainstream political parties in Jammu and Kashmir also find a place in the list. These 'special' persons also include several senior politicians. A number of government employees are also said to be under discreet watch. This development, it is pointed out, has been the product of alleged support by several employees of the State government to some anti-nationals in recent years. According to sources, government employees also include some officers.
Nor is it all. A few journalists in the troubled State have also been listed for 'technical watch'. Mediapersons in Jammu and Kashmir and elsewhere in the country are aware that telephone-tapping is part of Indian politics.
The first time the telephone tapping allegation triggered a major storm was in the early 1970s when almost the entire Opposition accused the then Prime Minister, Indira Gandhi, of ordering surveillance on them through telephone tapping.
Equally sensational development was witnessed in the early 1990s when Prime Minister,Chandra Shekhar, lost his cool and finally gave up his job after he found that he was being pried upon. There is no denying that surveillance has been, since time immemorial, an important tool in any political set-up.
At a time when telephone tapping has appeared to be part of Indian politics, politcans, and even industrialists, cannot be faulted for the way they take offence when their telephones are recorded and their allegation invariably get them the headlines. Of course, there are many across the country whose argument is bitter against telphone tappiong.
And the counter argument from some others: At a time when technology allows one to follow you right inside your bedroom and bathroom, telephone tapping is like a juvenile prank. Amid these noises, a significant question is being hotly discussed: Will the Indian Telegraph Act, 1885, be amended to suit the requirements of the people in general and politicians in particular?
Since the Act provides enormous powers to men in authority to take possession of licensed telegraphs and to order interception of messages, major changes may not be allowed in it, particularly in section 5(2) of the Act. Section 5(2) of the Act says: " On the occcurrence of any public emergency, or in the interest of the public safety, the Central government, or a State government or any officer specially authorised in this behalf by the Centrtal government of a State government may, if satisfied that it is necessary or expedient to do so in the interests of the sovereignty and integrity of India, the security of the State, friendly relations with foreign states or public order or for preventing incitement to the commission of an offence, for reasons to be recorded in writng, by order, direct that any message or class of messages to or from any person or class of persons, or relating to any partiucular subject, brought for transmission by any telegraph, shall not be transmitted, or shall be intercepted or detained, or shall be disclosed to the government..."
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