India First

Reforming surveillance in India In an article published in The Hindu earlier this week, the author (a lawyer) argues the case against telephone and electronic surveillance in India as it exists today, because according to him, its approvals are opaque, and grounds for surveillance are "vague and ambiguous". He's also suggested that the approval in its existing form is a formality, and has suggested decentralisation of approvals for surveillance from Executive to Judiciary, surveillance requests mandating a documented "probable cause for suspicion" and lastly, a lawyer representing the case of target for surveillance without his/her knowledge. Though well-intended, his suggestions of reform to the current approach to surveillance sound idealistic. Based on figures from a single RTI (Right to Information) query, he's of the view that the 250 or so surveillance requests approved daily in India may not be scrutinised by the authority. Given that not a