Calls intercepted according to law, Centre tells HC

NEW DELHI: The Centre has informed the Delhi high court that interception is done by authorised law enforcement agencies after due approval in each case by the competent authority and subject to safeguards as provided by law.
The Centre said in an affidavit filed on behalf of the ministries of communications, home affairs and electronics and information technology that no agency had blanket permission for interception or monitoring or decryption.
The Centre's submissions came in a counter-affidavit filed while opposing a PIL, filed by the Centre for Public Interest Litigation, alleging that through general surveillance mechanisms the government is collecting a substantial amount of information about citizens that flows through the internet.
The affidavit stated that lawful interception or monitoring or decryption of any message or information stored in any computer resource happens after due approval in each case, and that all lawful interception orders are issued on requests from authorised law enforcement agencies. "Lawful interception and monitoring is done in accordance with law. Further, Article 32 of the Constitution also provides for judicial review of executive actions," the affidavit stated.