Government snoops over common man's right to privacy
The foremost topic that was deliberated a lot on while the country stood on the threshold of welcoming Aadhar, was about the issues surrounding privacy of individuals. Many experts had expressed their apprehensions about how Aadhar may highly comprise an individual's right to privacy. There were allegations that government was introducing Aadhaar to invade or take control of people's private details and their lives. Now it is out in the open as to how information can be leaked through Aadhaar.
Till now the government would face arguments on the basis that Aadhar was fool proof as far as data is concerned. Now they have gone a step further. The government has now indirectly declared that people's personal information is the right to the government. Hence the government has issued a directive that any information stored on any computer shall be accessed by the government even without the permission of the owner of this information. Legal experts and cyber security professionals have been expressing great concerns about a directive such as this one. This directive empowers intelligence departments, narcotics control units, executive directorate, excise intelligence department, central investigation agency, national intelligence agency, cabinet committee, Jammu and Kashmir, north eastern states, secret code intelligence department in Assam, and Delhi police to monitor, and extract information from any computer whether personal or private. The right to privacy is under threat now. This will enable the government to misuse its powers now. And this will complicate people's lives even further. Defending the decision of the government, union minister Jaitley said this provision exists within the framework of IT act framed by the UPA government, and that the government wasn't misusing its powers in any manner. This way he is trying to absolve his government of any chances of having to shoulder the blame. If UPA government had done everything right, what was the need for the people to choose new government? If UPA had indeed made a mistake Modi government should not use it as defence but try to fix that error through the power and responsibility they have.
Even experts agree that IT Act does have a provision to empower the said agencies with snooping rights for the sake of national security. An act to monitor PCs was introduced in 2008 by the UPA government. Now by implementing it, the NDA government is trying to make this act effective and thus give it the sanctity that's required. Though this provision existed, no one had issued a special order to use it or empowered agencies to use the provisions. Though the IT act was amended in 2008 from the time it was framed in 2000, the rules to use this provision was publicised in 2009.
In a ruling in 2017, the Supreme Court upheld the right to privacy. Hence this directive by the government clashes directly with the Supreme Court's emphasis on privacy pertaining to constitutional rights. Starting from the CBI, the government is interfering with every investigating agency and its works. Instead of working for the welfare of the nation, allegations are aplenty that the agencies are serving the ruling dispensation.
Elements of Sangh Parivar have made a foray into these investigation agencies. Armed with information from private computers, the government and non governmental agencies too can use them against people and exploit them. Those in power may use them to silence their detractors. If the government can peep into your private space, that marks the end of constitution. This directive is an example of how the government is able to use the existing framework to push people around into delicate situations. This needs to be fought against, legally both inside and outside the courts. Or else everyone would lose their right to privacy and kneel before the higher powers. All those voices that could question the government would be silenced with this.
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Speaker rules out discussion on Guv''s conduct amid K''taka Assembly standoff
Bengaluru (PTI): In an effort to end the logjam over the Governor's address that has stalled proceedings for the past week, Karnataka Assembly Speaker U T Khader on Wednesday ruled that legislators should not discuss Thaawarchand Gehlot or his conduct in the house, saying such debates send the wrong message to the public.
The House has witnessed repeated disruptions and adjournments since the session began on January 22 over the issue of the governor's conduct.
During his address to the joint sitting of the Karnataka legislature on January 22, Gehlot read out only three sentences from the 122-paragraph speech prepared by the state government.
The speech included criticism of the Centre for replacing the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) with the Viksit Bharat–Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajivika Mission (Gramin) (VB-G RAM G), portions of which the governor declined to read.
Concluding his address in about two minutes, the governor left the house, triggering a commotion as Congress legislators attempted to gherao him and raised slogans.
While the opposition BJP accused the ruling Congress and its ministers of "insulting" the governor and demanded action, the treasury benches countered by claiming the governor had "insulted the National Anthem by leaving before it was played."
The house again witnessed heated arguments on the issue earlier in the day, leading to adjournment.
During the interruption, Khader held a meeting with ministers and opposition members to resolve the impasse.
When proceedings resumed, the speaker delivered his ruling.
Referring to the events of January 22 and the subsequent debate, Khader said the conduct and discussions had conveyed the wrong message to the public.
"Our conduct as members of this House and the opinions expressed must be in good taste and in accordance with constitutional provisions. They must uphold the dignity of the House and its members. We must introspect in this direction," he said.
He stressed the need for caution to ensure that such incidents are not repeated in the future.
"Let us end this matter here, continue the discussion on the motion of thanks to the governor, and refrain from discussing the governor or his conduct in this house," the speaker said.
Leader of the Opposition R Ashoka said the house should express regret over what he termed an "insult" to the governor.
Responding, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said the situation would not have arisen had the governor read out the entire address.
"Asking the house to express regret is not appropriate. Why did the governor leave even before the National Anthem was played," Siddaramaiah asked.
BJP MLA S Suresh Kumar reminded Siddaramaiah that as Leader of the Opposition in 2011, he had asked then Governor Hansraj Bhardwaj to curtail his address.
Bhardwaj had subsequently placed the address on the table of the house, requesting members to treat it as read.
Siddaramaiah said the situation in January 2011 was different from the present one.
The debate grew intense, leading to another adjournment of the house.
