Rules for interception of messages, agencies given six months for surveillance

NEW DELHI: The government has notified rules to intercept mobile messages, with the Union Home Secretary and chief secretaries of the states being authorised as competent authorities to pass an interception order, officials said on Tuesday.

Officials said the competent authorities can issue directions to agencies to intercept any message or class of messages for a specified purpose. This could be done for a specified period of time, which should not be more than six months.