India’s Supreme Court has asked the Narendra Modi-led central government to respond on pleas challenging a recent home ministry order that allowed most law enforcement agencies sweeping powers to monitor all personal computers and devices of Indian citizens.
Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi issued the notice to the government against the controversial order, giving it six weeks to respond. Contrary to expectations of the petition, the SC has not stayed the order.
India’s home ministry last month issued an order authorizing 10 government agencies to intercept and monitor information in any computer in India, leading to widespread criticism of the move.