NEW DELHI: Representatives of the country's leading phone companies and senior Government officials on Friday met to discuss a complete evaluation of the phone tapping system including the issuance of fresh guidelines and ensuring total compliance with the existing guidelines. Union Home Secretary V. K. Duggal, Telecom Secretary J.S. Sarma, Intelligence Bureau chief E.S.L. Narasimhan and Delhi Police Commissioner K.K. Paul were among the top government officials present at the meeting.

First meeting

This was the first meeting on the gamut of issues after a decade and it was intended to collate the industry's views before the Government submits its reply before the Supreme Court towards the middle of this month on a petition filed by Samajwadi Party leader Amar Singh seeking a Central Bureau of Investigation probe into the alleged tapping of his telephone.

Apart from an examination of the tapping mechanism, government officials also exchanged views on making minor amendments to the existing law in order to more strongly deter illegal phone tapping. This is the second time the Government has been forced into action on the issue at the instance of the Supreme Court. It had last formulated steps in this direction in 1996 when the apex court laid down certain guidelines after observing that the right to have private conversation is a fundamental right to privacy.

(PTI quoting Union Home Ministry officials said the meeting also discussed the tapping mechanism as practised in some foreign countries, where a Central agency was set up for the purpose.

The agency acts as a liaison between the operators and the security agencies and there is complete secrecy as to which number was being tapped, the sources said, adding that there was no final decision whether such an agency would be set up in the country or not.)

No need to change Act

Speaking to newspersons after the meeting, Cellular Operators Association of India Director General T.V. Ramachandran said there was no need to change the Indian Telegraph Act but wanted some fine-tuning because of the changing global scene.

He said phone companies would extend full cooperation to the Government in this regard.

Phone company officials meet Communications and Home Ministry officials from time to time but discussions centre on a few elements of the phone tapping implementation guidelines and till now, did not cover a complete review of the system.

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