Indian Telegraph Act, 1885

2021-07-12T18:05:12Z

203.192.214.115:

{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2020}}
{{use Indian English|date=July 2016}}
{{Infobox legislation
| imagesize = 100
| enacted_by = [[Imperial Legislative Council]]
|amended_by = The Repealing Act, 1938
| status = amended
}}
The '''Indian Telegraph Act, 1885''' is the enabling legislation in [[India]] which governs the use of wired and wireless telegraphy, telephones, teletype, radio communications and digital data communications. It gives the [[Government of India]] exclusive jurisdiction and privileges for establishing, maintaining, operating, licensing and oversight of all forms of wired and wireless communications within Indian territory. It also authorizes government law enforcement agencies to monitor/intercept communications and tap phone lines under conditions defined within the Indian Constitution. The act came into force on 1 October 1885. Since that time, numerous amendments have been passed to update the act to respond to changes in technology.<ref name="Telegraph Act, 1885">{{cite web | url=http://dot.gov.in/sites/default/files/the_indian_telegraph_act_1985_pdf.pdf | title=Indian Telegraph Act, 1885 | publisher=[[Department of Telecommunications]], Ministry of Communication, Government of India | accessdate=16 May 2019}}</ref>

==Background==
The Indian Telegraph Act, passed in 1883, was intended to give the Central Government power to establish telegraph lines on private as well as public property. At the time the Act was conceived, India was still under the rule of the [[British Raj]]. Telegraph was first installed in 1851 and a trans-India telegraph was completed three years later in 1854.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.uh.edu/engines/epi1380.htm|title=No. 1380: Indian Telegraph|website=uh.edu|accessdate=15 May 2019}}</ref> The telegraph had become, in the intervening thirty years, an important tool for British dominion over India by quelling rebellions and consolidating information. It was thus important for the British to have control of telegraphy and infrastructure across the subcontinent.

==Legal interception of communications by law enforcement agencies==
Indian laws do not allow disclosure of information pertaining to court authorised interception and communications data.

{{quote|''“Section 5 (2) of the Indian Telegraph Act 1885 – read with rule 419 (A) of Indian Telegraph (Amendment) Rules 2007 obliges telecommunications service providers to maintain extreme secrecy in matters concerning lawful interception. Further, under Rule 25(4) of the IT (Procedure and Safeguards for Interception, Monitoring and Decryption of Information) Rules, 2009 (Interception Rules) and Rule 11 of the IT (Procedure and Safeguards for Monitoring and Collecting Traffic Data or Information) Rules, 2009 (the ‘Traffic Data Rules’), ‘strict confidentiality shall be maintained’ in respect of directions for lawful interception, monitoring, decryption or collection of data traffic,”''{{cn|date=May 2020}}}}

==Miscellaneous==
The ownership and operation of satellite communications systems and amateur radio equipment is strictly regulated in India.

===Satellite phones===
[[Satellite phones]] have to either be purchased in India from an authorized distributor or can be imported into India after receiving permission from the [[Department of Telecommunications]] (DoT).<ref>http://www.trai.gov.in/Content/ReDis/526_83.aspx</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.dot.gov.in/carrier-services/restrictions-use-satellite-phone |title=Archived copy |access-date=28 January 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150118061440/http://www.dot.gov.in/carrier-services/restrictions-use-satellite-phone |archive-date=18 January 2015 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.dot.gov.in/carrier-services/inmarsat |title=Archived copy |access-date=28 January 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150213091213/http://www.dot.gov.in/carrier-services/inmarsat |archive-date=13 February 2015 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.intmsearch.gov.in/bimonthly/2015/01%20of%202015.pdf | title=4.2.6. Usage of Thuraya / Irridum and Satellite Phone | work=Indian Notices to Mariners | publisher=[[Indian Naval Hydrographic Department]] | date= 1 January 2015 | accessdate=16 May 2019}}</ref>
Following the [[Mumbai terror attacks in 2011]], the [[Directorate General of Shipping]] (DGS) banned the use of [[Thuraya]] and [[Iridium_Communications|Iridium]] satellite phones and infrastructure in 2012;<ref name=GARD>{{cite web | url=http://www.gard.no/web/updates/content/26690148/ban-on-use-of-satellite-phones-in-india-6-years-on-and-violations-still-occur | title=Alert: Ban on use of satellite phones in India: 6 years on and violations still occur | publisher=[[Assuranceforeningen Gard|GARD]] | date=3 December 2018 | accessdate=16 May 2019}}</ref> restrictions were already in place in 2010, for similar reasons, under provisions in the Indian Telegraph Act.<ref name="2010-Customs">{{cite web|url=http://www.cbec.gov.in/customs/cs-circulars/cs-circulars10/circ37-2k10-cus.htm |title=Subject: Illegal use of Satellite Phones in India – regarding |author=R. P. Singh, Director (Customs)| work=Circular No.37 / 2010-Customs | publisher=Government of India, Ministry of Finance, Department of Revenue, [[Central Board of Excise & Customs]] |accessdate=28 January 2015 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140208130319/http://www.cbec.gov.in/customs/cs-circulars/cs-circulars10/circ37-2k10-cus.htm |archivedate=8 February 2014 }}</ref>

Passengers importing satellite telephone as baggage shall be required to declare the same to the Customs on arrival at immigration and customs checkpoints. Circular No.37 / 2010-Customs states that "satellite phone declared to Customs shall be allowed clearance subject to production of permission for use from DoT, Government of India." (...) "Satellite phones imported for use in India without a valid permission of DoT may be detained and appropriate action in accordance with the law may be initiated."<ref name="2010-Customs"/>

Indian media reports mention that [[National Technical Research Organisation]] (NTRO) has capability to detect, intercept and record phone communications using land and satellite-based communications link monitoring systems.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/10000-phones-1000-e-mail-IDs-under-the-scanner/article12555157.ece|title=10,000 phones, 1,000 e-mail IDs under the scanner|first=Sandeep|last=Joshi|date=12 October 2012|work=The Hindu|accessdate=15 May 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.deccanherald.com/content/452820/terror-boat-satellite-phones-tracked.html|title='Terror boat': Satellite phones tracked by NTRO remained active until Jan 4|date=11 January 2015|website=[[Deccan Herald]]|accessdate=15 May 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/jaipur/Alarm-over-satellite-phone-use-in-border-districts/articleshow/7768351.cms|title=Alarm over satellite phone use in border districts |first1=Vimal|last1=Bhatia|author2=Ashish Mehta | agency=TNN |date=24 March 2011 |website=The Times of India|accessdate=15 May 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.business-standard.com/article/companies/the-two-men-behind-india-s-secret-surveillance-industry-111120300053_1.html|title=The two men behind India's 'secret' surveillance industry|authors=Akshat Kaushal & Surajeet Das Gupta|date=3 December 2011|accessdate=15 May 2019|work=[[Business Standard]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Terrorists-move-to-Skype-frustrate-eavesdroppers/articleshow/9276688.cms|title=Terrorists move to Skype, frustrate eavesdroppers |author=Josy Joseph | agency=TNN |date=19 July 2011 |website=The Times of India|accessdate=15 May 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.indiatvnews.com/news/india/gps-android-uavs-satphones-to-counter-maoists-in-chhatisgarh-18425.html|title=GPS, Android, UAVs, satphones to counter Maoists in Chhatisgarh |date=31 October 2012|website=India TV News |accessdate=15 May 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://pib.gov.in/newsite/erelease.aspx?relid=114006|title=Emerging Technological Challenges for National Security |website=[[Press Information Bureau]]|publisher=[[Ministry of Home Affairs]] |date=23 December 2014|accessdate=15 May 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.dnaindia.com/india/report-satellite-phones-in-declared-as-threat-to-national-security-1590901|title=Satellite phones in declared as threat to national security (sic)|author=Kumar, Manan |date=24 September 2011|website=[[DNA India]]|accessdate=15 May 2019}}</ref> Scientists at [[Indian Institutes of Technology]] (IIT) have cracked [[GEO-Mobile Radio Interface]] GMR-1 and GMR-2 encryption algorithms.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/the-governments-listening-to-us/article2678501.ece|title=The government's listening to us|first=Praveen|last=Swami|date=1 December 2011|accessdate=15 May 2019|work=The Hindu}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/op-ed/the-art-and-science-of-communications-intelligence/article2678511.ece|title=The art and science of communications intelligence|first=Praveen|last=Swami|date=1 December 2011|accessdate=15 May 2019|work=The Hindu}}</ref> NTRO and ISRO can access archived data from [[Technology Experiment Satellite]] (TES), [[Cartosat-2A]] and [[Cartosat-2B]] besides two [[RISAT|Radar Imaging Satellites]] namely [[RISAT-1]] & [[RISAT-2]].

===Amateur radio===
[[Amateur radio]] equipment can only be imported and operated in India with approval from [[Wireless Planning and Coordination Wing]] (WPC) of the DoT. Indian amateur radio licence and VU- call-sign is mandatory for operating any category of amateur radio equipment within Indian territory.
Indian amateur radio exams can only be taken by Indian citizens. Foreign passport holders can apply for reciprocal Indian licences based upon a valid amateur radio call-sign from their country of residence.<ref>http://www.vigyanprasar.gov.in/ham/asocrules.htm</ref>
[[Amateur Station Operator's Certificate]] and licences always bear mention of location of transmitting equipment. Portable and mobile amateur radio stations require explicit permission from WPC.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.wpc.gov.in/content/10_1_Regulations.aspx |title=Archived copy |access-date=28 January 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141221051708/http://www.wpc.gov.in/content/10_1_Regulations.aspx |archive-date=21 December 2014 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
Amateur radio operators from [[United States of America]] do not have automatic reciprocity in India. Use of a FCC call-sign is prohibited by law.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.arrl.org/reciprocal-permit|title=Reciprocal Permit|website=arrl.org|accessdate=15 May 2019}}</ref>
Ownership of amateur radio equipment and station operation on Indian territory of a US FCC call-sign obtained through ARRL Volunteer Examiner Coordinators (VEC) examination is illegal.

===Radio receivers for plane-spotting===
Use of any category of radio equipment for plane-spotting requires permission from [[Wireless Planning & Coordination]] (WPC) wing of the DoT.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://dgca.nic.in/airule-ind.htm|title=PART I- PRELIMINARY|website=dgca.nic.in|accessdate=15 May 2019}}</ref>
Signal acquisition of any category within the radio spectrum outside of public licence-free broadcast frequencies needs approval from Wireless Planning & Coordination (WPC) wing of the DoT. Reception of radio traffic from Government or law-enforcement and defence organisations is strictly forbidden.

Import and operation of radio scanners or radio communications receivers capable of listening to HF VHF UHF and satellite aircraft or maritime radio frequencies is tolerated if user has an appropriate amateur/maritime/aircraft radio licence.

==See also==
* [[Amateur radio in India]]
* [[Amateur radio call-signs of India]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{Ministry of Communications (India)}}
{{Indian legislations}}

[[Category:1885 in India]]
[[Category:1885 in law]]
[[Category:Communications in India]]
[[Category:Amateur radio in India]]
[[Category:Legislation in British India]]
[[Category:Telecommunications law]]
[[Category:1885 in British law]]

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Indian Telegraph Act, 1885