Date:15/11/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/11/15/stories/2008111560711100.htm

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

“Conversation recorded without knowledge is breach of privacy”

Special Correspondent

“There is nothing in the report that implicates Poongothai Aladi Aruna in any manner”

CHENNAI: Conversation recorded without the knowledge of the other party to the conversation “is breach of privacy and freedom of speech,” the P.Shanmugham Commission of Inquiry, which examined the phone tapping controversy, has said.

“The person who records it can prompt and prolong the conversation to lead the other person to say something knowingly or unknowingly, which can go on record and which can be taken advantage of. May be this kind of recording is permissible in case of criminal investigation or in a trap case to lead the accused to make demands or disclose criminal mind and modus operandi of an offence. Whereas in normal circumstances persons who are totally innocent, but due to their inexperience may unintentionally say something, which, if recorded, would make it appear that they have made an illegal demand. Whether the mere request itself is illegal and is an offence and whether there is complicity in carrying it out has to be seen in each case,” says the report.

Participating in the debate for supplementary grants for the year, Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi general secretary D.Ravikumar said that there was nothing in the report that implicated former Social Welfare Minister Poongothai Aladi Aruna in any manner.

Since as Minister she had received all-round appreciation, the Chief Minister should consider taking her back into the Ministry.