India is planning to launch many crucial projects that could have serious civil liberty implications. There is no doubt that ensuring a balance between civil liberties and national security requirements is a tricky issue. The national security and fundamental rights must be reconciled by Indian government keeping in mind the constitutional mandates.

According to Praveen Dalal, managing partner of New Delhi based ICT and techno legal law firm Perry4Law and CEO of PTLB, there is need to have “Reconciliation” between National Security needs of India on the one hand and Protection of Fundamental Rights on the other. I have also sent a communication in this regard to Government of India in the past, informs Dalal.

India must stress upon capacity and skills development to protect its national security and cyber security requirements. The offensive and defensive cyber security capabilities must be developed by India to thwart the growing cyber attacks against Indian critical infrastructures.

It would be a wrong strategy to curb civil liberties for false national security requirements. That is simply a façade to hide our own lack of expertise and capabilities to manage our national security requirements.

Let us repeal the draconian laws like information technology act, 2000 and Indian telegraph act, 1885 and enact constitutionally sound law to maintain a balance between civil liberties and national security requirements.

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