Illegal phone-tapping through legal means

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Snooping allegations against the Narendra Modi government in Gujarat have brought back the attention on privacy of individuals. But can security and intelligence agencies tap phone calls under the law? Yes they can. A provision in the Telegraph Act allows them to put phones on surveillance for seven days in emergency situations. They can use the emergency route in case the location is remote and obtaining permission is not feasible, and also for operational reasons. These agencies purportedly stop surveillance on the sixth day, so that they need not have to justify the reasons for tapping. Officials say once the Central Monitoring System starts functioning, there will be more clarity, as the system will generate records of surveillance carried out in emergency situations. Sahil Makkar explains the process of interception and surveillance: