Phone tapping: SC queries telecom service providers

Hearing a petition filed by Samajwadi Party leader Amar Singh, the Supreme Court on Monday asked telecom service...

Hearing a petition filed by Samajwadi Party leader Amar Singh, the Supreme Court on Monday asked telecom service providers whether they had ever tapped phones on private request. A bench headed by Chief Justice of India, Justice Y K Sabharwal, granted the Service Providers three weeks to reply. Taking note of the Centre8217;s stand that it was contemplating changes in the Indian Telegraph Act of 1885, which laid down rules for intercepting phones, the court also pointed out the need for modifying its past guidelines on interceptions, keeping in view entry of private players and technological advancements.

Meanwhile, acting on the court8217;s order, the Centre, through Solicitor General G E Vahanvati, informed it about telephones which had been kept under watch by security agencies.

The apex court has also sought the views of the Centre, the Delhi government and telecom service providers on what changes were required to make it in tune with the technological development.

Zaheera wants sentence reduced

NEW DELHI: Best Bakery case witness Zaheera Sheikh on Monday approached the Supreme Court and apologised for her actions and requested the court to reduce the sentence imposed on her for committing contempt of court.

Describing herself as a 8216;8216;victim of circumstances,8217;8217; Zaheera said in her application filed through counsel D K Garg that neither she nor her family members committed mistakes advertently. 8216;8216;Unfortunate omissions on the part of the applicant and her family have occurred on account of illiteracy as well as poor/sympathetic condition of family,8217;8217; she said in her application.

PIL against Qureshi dismissed

NEW DELHI: The SC on Monday dismissed a PIL which sought action against UP Minister for Minorities Haji Yaqoob Qureshi for announcing Rs 51 crore for the head of the Danish cartoonist made caricatures of Prophet Mohammed. Terming the episode as 8216;8216;unfortunate8217;8217;, a bench headed by Chief Justice YK Sabharwal and comprising Justices CK Thakker and AR Lakshmanan which rejected the petition said every statement and counter-statement on a controversial issue could not be entertained in PILs. Instead, petitioner Vijay Kumar Tiwari could have filed a criminal complaint against the minister, it added.

Court no to soft drinks probe

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Monday made it evident that it was not inclined to order an inquiry to determine the presence of hazardous chemicals in aerated drinks as alleged.

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8216;8216;It is not appropriate for inquiry into the matter placed before us,8217;8217; a bench of Justices Ruma Pal and Dalveer Bhandari said after hearing soft drink majors Pepsi and Coca Cola, who said the matter was pending in Parliament and hence it would amount to a parallel proceeding if the court also decided to set up an inquiry committee.