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Journalism of Courage
Samajwadi Party general secretary Amar Singh today moved the Supreme Court seeking a judicial probe into the tapping of Opposition leaders8217; telephones.
Besides the Centre, Home Ministry and Commissioner of Police, Amar Singh has made Sonia Gandhi a party to the case by including the 8220;Indian National Congress through its President8221; as a respondent. Reliance Infocomm has also been made a party to the case.
The PMO has dismissed Amar Singh8217;s allegations, saying none of its officials were involved in phone-tapping.
In his petition, filed through his advocate-on-record P H Parkeh, Amar Singh urged the Supreme Court to prosecute 8220;those found guilty8221; of phone-tapping. He also sought a direction to the Centre and all state governments to follow the guidelines the apex court had set in a case some years ago brought by the People8217;s Union for Civil Liberties PUCL.
In the PUCL case argued by senior counsel Rajindar Sachar, a former Chief Justice of Delhi High Court, the Supreme Court had held that no tapping could be done unless in 8220;larger national and public interest8221;. Phones could be tapped only after getting approval from a three-member committee headed by the Home Secretary, the Law Secretary and another Secretary-level bureaucrat.
The court said tapping should be limited to three months and the tapes should be approved by the Cabinet Secretary. If the panel rejects the tapes, they should be burnt or destroyed.
Amar Singh8217;s counsel Parekh said: 8220;With a large number of private companies entering the telecom sector it will be more necessary to strictly enforce guidelines laid down8221;. He also demanded 8220;further legal safeguards8230;to protect the citizen8217;s rights8221;.
Former Andhra Pradesh CM Chandrababu Naidu added that his phones were also being tapped.
Amar Singh said in his petition: 8220;The Hon8217;ble Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu issued a statement that this phone-tapping is a serious issue which needs to be dealt with urgently and adequately as the phone-tapping impinged on the right to privacy and freedom of speech.8221;
The petition said a letter sent by Ranjit Narayan, Joint Commissioner of Police in Delhi, to the 8220;nodal officer, Reliance Infocomm8221; said: 8220;The interception of the below-mentioned mobiles numbers of Amar Singh, Mulayam and his son Akhilesh is urgently required for the safety of general public at large and in the interest of nation.8221;
The petition is not listed for hearing. Parekh said it would be 8220;mentioned8221; during SC8217;s 8220;mention hour8221; for an early hearing. Amar Singh has alleged that even the phones of SC judges are being tapped.
