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The Union Home Ministry has warned both the states of Andhra Pradesh (AP) and Telangana to keep the Centre informed about the matters that have the potential to compromise India’s security. The warning came in context with the fight between the Telugu speaking states over alleged phone tapping.

The New Indian Express reported that the Home Ministry sent a strongly worded letter to both the states of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh citing section 91 of the CrPC. This came after Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI) was directed by Supreme Court to produce call data records within a week in sealed cover, before the trial court in Vijayawada.

Ministry sources were quoted by the New Indian Express as saying that, “Such personal feud leading to pressure on service providers for disclosure of data may jeopardise Intelligence and law enforcement agencies covert operation against individuals under the scanner for anti-national activities. It is not in the interest of internal security which directly comes under the domain of Home Ministry. The ministry has asked both the states to keep Central government informed on such sensitive matters before pressurising operators to disclose call records.”

Having caught between the governments of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh for call data records, cellular operators seek SC protection in phone tapping issue. While AP asked for disclosing data concerning certain  cellular phone numbers, Telangana prohibited them from disclosing any information.

-Sumana