National intelligence grid (Natgrid) of India and national counter terrorism centre (NCTC) of India has been planned for a long. Despite many deadlines, both Natgrid and NCTC have failed to take a start. Both are very important projects yet they must be subjected to Parliamentary oversight as well as must balance fundamental rights with national security requirements.According to Praveen Dalal, managing partner of India’s exclusive techno legal ICT law firm Perry4Law and CEO of human rights protection centre of India for cyberspace, NATGRID and NCTC are essential for National Security of India. However, certain Constitutional, Legal and Technical issues must be resolved beforehand for the successful implementation of these Projects, suggests Dalal.
NATGRID and NCTC are essential for robust and effective Intelligence Agencies and Law Enforcement Functions in India. The only requirement is to ensure that their “Abuses” can be anticipated, prevented and remedied, suggests Dalal. The present intelligence infrastructure of India is in bad shape and there is an urgent need to rejuvenate the same.
For instance, hints have been given that Blackberry, Gmail, Skype and other similar encryption oriented services would not be banned in India. In the near future, intelligence agencies of India and law enforcement agencies of India would be required to develop intelligence gathering skill development. With the present skills of these agencies technological issues would pose great trouble for them in future.
Meanwhile, the very projects of Natgrid and NCTC are in danger of being redundant and no starter. The Home Ministry has informed the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) that any further delay in establishing the Natgrid could have serious repercussions for the country’s internal security.
There are many techno legal issues that Home Ministry, Natgrid, NCTC, etc have to resolve. In the absence of resolving these issues, these projects may never see the light of the day.
