The Home Ministry’s notification dated 20 December, authorising ten security and intelligence agencies to intercept, monitor and decrypt any information generated, transmitted, received or stored in any computer resource, kicked up a storm.

Opposition leaders and experts have called it “unconstitutional” and “an assault on fundamental rights”.

The controversial notification authorises Intelligence Bureau, Narcotics Control Bureau, the Enforcement Directorate, the Central Board of Direct Taxes, and six other agencies to intercept “any information”.