Lawyer Kabir Shankar Bose submitted an RTI request to find is his phone tapping done.
Bose wanted to know more on is tapping occurred. When TRAI refused to provide the information as per policy, Bose went to the Central Information Commission (CIC), which subsequently urged TRAI to provide information concerning the alleged tapping.
Under the RTI procedures, the Delhi High Court (HC) has requested Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) to avoid any information related to phone tapping. The HC states that only authorized officials have access to request call tapping. Therefore, if the authorities give permission to tap a phone line, they are only doing so to protect national security in India or to stop criminal activity. Public disclosure of those facts can hinder existing investigations, which would be risky to India’s interests.
Attorney Kabir Shankar Bose had submitted an RTI request to find out if his phone was being tapped. Bose got information regarding the tapping, if any was taking place. Bose went to the Central Information Commission (CIC), which subsequently requested information from TRAI on the claimed tapping after TRAI refused to provide details in accordance with policy. The Delhi High Court, where TRAI appealed the CIC’s ruling, backed the regulatory body’s and the telecom operator’s refusal to provide the public with information on phone tapping, reported to a TheTribuneIndia story.
Vodafone Idea telecom denied Bose’s request. Since phone tapping information relates to national security, it cannot be shared with clients or made public. Therefore, no one is able to request such information even by using the RTI Act.
Additionally, TRAI would be able to block telco operations if it were granted the authority to get information regarding call tapping from telecom providers and provide it to customers. That isn’t as per the objectives of TRAI. Only high-profile officers in the armed forces or government have the power to permit call tapping.
Source Telecomtalk
