The Supreme Court will on Thursday take up the petition filed by Tata group chairman Ratan Tata seeking a direction to the government to probe leakage of tapes containing his private conversation with corporate lobbyist Niira Radia, and stop their further publication.
The petition is listed for mentioning before a bench comprising justices G.S. Singhvi and A.K. Ganguly which is hearing the matter relating to the 2G spectrum scam.
In his petition, the industrialist has sought action against those involved in the leakage of tapes alleging that such an act amounts to infringement of his fundamental Right to Life, which includes right to privacy under Article 21 of the Constitution.
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Tata has sought the apex court directions to the Union Home Secretary, the CBI and the Income Tax Department.
The petition, prepared under the guidance of senior advocate Harish Salve, has contended that since Radia’s phone was tapped for the purposes of alleged tax evasion, it cannot be used for any other purpose.
The petition has cited the apex court guidelines in PUCL case in which it was held that the phone surveillance can be done only for a specific purpose.
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Tata has argued in the petition that making public his conversation with Radia also violates his freedom of fundamental Right to Speech and Expression under Article 19(1)(a) of the Constitution.
In the wake of 2G spectrum allocation scam allegedly involving Rs 1.76 lakh crore, some journals have published taped conversation of Radia had with politicians, journalists and industrialists.
Transcripts of some of these tapes have also come up on various websites, stirring a controversy over the alleged nexus between lobbyists and journalists.