New Delhi: A top Judicial Member of the Central Administrative Tribunal’s Calcutta bench has alleged that his personal phone was being illegally “tapped” and has asked the Union Home Ministry to probe it.
The CAT bench in Kolkata has shot off a letter in this regard to Home Secretary Anil Goswami stating that Justice Pratap Kumar Ray, former Acting Chief Justice of the Calcutta High Court and at present officiating as the Judicial Member and Head of the local CAT bench, has apprehensions of his phone being tapped.
Ray confirmed to PTI that he has made such a complaint through the Registrar’s office.
In the March 25 letter, Registrar K Biswal said Ray “uses the mobile phone to contact with different dignitaries including Chairman of CAT in New Delhi relating to official matters and it is also used for personal purpose.”
The Registrar has asked the Home Secretary to “take necessary action as per law as tapping of mobile phone is not only an offence but is is breach of Article 21 of Constitution of India, a fundamental right of a citizen.”
The CAT is a judicial body set up to adjudicate disputes with respect to recruitment and conditions of service of persons appointed to public services and posts in connection with the affairs of the Union or other local authorities.
While the CAT Principal bench sits in Delhi, its branches are located in various states.
