9/18/2019
India | Global Network Initiative
Oversight of the Use of Powers
There is no judicial oversight over the interception process.
With respect to the review of the interception of telephonic communication
under the IT Act and the ITR, a Review Committee has been established under
Rule 419-A(16) of the ITR at both the central and the state level. As per the ITR,
every order issued by the relevant government officials has to be sent to the
Review Committee.
The Review Committee is required to meet once every two months and if the
Review Committee is of the opinion that an interception order was not in
accordance with the provisions of the IT Act and the ITR, it may set aside the
interception order and also order the destruction of the information obtained
through interception.
Rule 419-A (17) provides that in cases where the interception has been carried
out in an emergency, the relevant government official has to be informed of
such interception within three working days and the interception has to be
confirmed within 7 working days, otherwise the interception will have to cease
and the same message cannot be intercepted without the prior approval of
Union or state Home Secretary.
A similar Review Committee has also been established under the Interception
Rules. Rule 22 of the Interception Rules provides for the establishment of a
Review Committee to examine the interception or monitoring directions. If the
Review Committee is of the opinion that the interception or monitoring
directions are not in accordance with Section 69 of the IT Act, then it may set
aside the direction and also order the destruction of the information obtained
through interception.
With respect to CMS there is no judicial oversight over the project. The Review
process is the same as provided for under Rule 419-A of the ITR as described
above.
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