Madras HC strikes down MHA’s order on phone tapping; calls it ‘violation of the right to privacy’

CHENNAI: The Madras High Court has ruled that tapping of phones of individuals in a covert operation to detect crimes amounts to violation of the right to privacy, which is an integral part of the fundamental right to life guaranteed under Article 21 of the Constitution.

However, the court said tapping can be done on the occurrence of a public emergency or in the interest of public safety as per the law.