Chief Secys, DGPs discuss phone tapping, castes census

New Delhi (PTI) The Centre Tuesday discussed with
the state governments various aspects of telephone tapping and
emphasised on strict adherence of existing rules to avoid any
controversy.
At the meeting of Chief Secretaries and Directors General
of Police, Home Ministry officials said law enforcement
agencies can tap phone of any individual for security or
operational reasons for 72 hours even without permission from
Union Home Ministry or the state Home Secretary.
In such a case, if the concerned agency does not get
permission, it will have to destroy the tapped telephone
conversations within 48 hours, official sources said.
However, some of the participating Chief Secretaries at
the meeting said 48 hours time to delete the tapped phone
calls was too short and it should be extended.
Home Ministry officials also told the representatives of
the state governments about do's and don'ts of wire tapping
and emphasised strict adherence to rules.
The meeting also discussed recommendations of the
secretaries of the committee on telephone tapping.
Telephone tapping has been a very controversial issue in
the country, especially in the wake of leaks of telephone
tapes of corporate lobbyist Niira Radia.
The meeting, chaired by Home Secretary Gopal K Pillai,
also deliberated on issues like census on castes, people
living Below Poverty Line, urban poor and human trafficking.
Census on castes, BPL and urban poor will be conducted
together across the country and all logistics and manpower
provided by the state governments.