'Anti-terror bill doesn't violate central laws'

Gujarat government has told the Centre that the controversial Gujarat Control of Terrorism and Organised Crime (GCTOC) Bill – 2015 do not contravene existing law of the land.

Responding to clarifications sought by Ministry of Home Affairs, the Gujarat government said provisions of the Act such as call intercepts and phone tapping are in consonance with the central laws.

A senior state home department official said the Ministry of Communication and Information Technology said certain provisions of the GCTOC violated existing Telegraph Act and IT Act.

“We have assured the Central ministries that we cannot and do not intend to bypass any existing laws of the land. GCTOC does not go beyond the rules of both these Acts. Call interception authorized by designated authority is legal under Telegraph Act,” the home ministry official said.

A clause in GCTOC allows police to intercept phone calls, record conversations and use them as evidence.

The Bill, similar to the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act and Karnataka Control of Organised Crime Act, has provisions for death penalty and a fine of Rs 10 lakh.