Rules for call details tightened

The Modi government on Wednesday told the Rajya Sabha that in an effort to curb illegal phone tapping in the country snooping guidelines have been revised with an aim of tightening the process of obtaining telephone call data records (CDRs) of MPs and other citizens.

Minister of state for home affairs Kiren Rijiju informed the House during the Question Hour that the guidelines have been tightened as the government has found some of the police officers misusing CDRs.

“Privacy of any citizen and confidentiality of telephone numbers must be protected. If anybody breaches it, the government has to take serious action,” he said.

The minister stated that the guidelines have been revised on July 28. As per the revised guidelines, head of the police organisation’s permission is required for obtaining CDRs of Members of Parliament, he said.

Only authorised officers and nodal designated officers in the Centre and state have been authorised with clear stipulation to maintain particular email ID and password to be updated timely, more preferably monthly, he added.

Every additional commissioner of police (ACP) or deputy commissioner of police (DCP) of the district, the crime branch, economic wing, special cell, IG airport ACP and special cell, crime branch have been authorised to obtain CDRs, he added.

He asserted that the government is taking serious note of misuse of CDRs, Mr Rijiju said, “We have also found that some of the police officers are also involved. That’s why we have been very strict.”

To a query by Sharad Yadav (JD-U) on any action taken against one capitalist allegedly involved in phone tapping of some ministers and even National Security Adviser, Mr Rijiju said, “The home ministry has handed over the case to Delhi Police for investigation. We have also given all details to the court on this issue. A special cell has been set up and that is probing. The moment we get updates, we will inform the House.”