Plea in HC to withdraw laptops from Defence Ministry officials

A petition was today filed in the Delhi High Court seeking direction to the Ministry of Defence to withdraw the laptops and computers issued to its officials for working from home alleging that sensitive data may land in "wrong hands".
A bench headed by Chief Justice G Rohini fixed the matter for consideration on March 14 on the plea which claimed that "sensitive defence electronic datas continues to move out of the 'Defence Security Zone' through the laptops and the data transfer device of computers despite prohibition on such movement."
The plea was filed by Uttarakhand resident S K Gandhi, a retired senior auditor of the Defence Accounts Department.

The petition alleged that the ministry should be directed to withdraw the laptops and computers issued for doing office work at the residence to those officers of department headed by the Controller General of Defence Accounts (CGDA), who have office situated in the 'Defence Security Zone'.
CGDA heads the defence accounts department which deals with audit, payment and accounting of all charges pertaining to the armed forces, including bills for supplies and services rendered.
In his plea, the petitioner said, "Respondents (Defence Ministry and CGDA) may kindly be directed to withdraw laptops and computers issued for doing office work at the residence to those officers of the department headed by the CGDA, who have office situated in 'Defence Security Zone'."

He claimed that he had written to CGDA on the issue but its reply was "false and evasive".
"With the suppression of the petitioner's represenation, defence electronic datas continue to move out of defence security zone and as such, remains at the risk of falling in wrong hands," it alleged.
The petitioner also urged the court to appoint an advocate as amicus in the matter after hearing him on the issue.