Saturday, March 29, 2025
A new government directive regarding the Sanchar Saathi mobile application has triggered a major political controversy in India. Opposition parties have accused the government of using the app as a surveillance tool—comparing it to the infamous Israeli spyware Pegasus—and have called the move unconstitutional.
On Monday, the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) issued a directive requiring all mobile handset manufacturers and importers to ensure that the Sanchar Saathi application is pre-installed on every new mobile device sold in India.
The order states:
All newly manufactured or imported phones must come with Sanchar Saathi pre-installed within 90 days.
Devices already manufactured or currently in the sales pipeline must receive the app via a software update.
The government has defended the move, saying the app is essential for:
Preventing duplicate and fake IMEI numbers
Tackling the growing market of second-hand, stolen, or blacklisted mobile devices
Strengthening national security
Officials argue that Sanchar Saathi is part of a legitimate effort to create a reliable system for tracking devices and stopping mobile-related fraud—not a tool for spying.
Opposition parties have slammed the move as a violation of fundamental rights:
Congress General Secretary K.C. Venugopal called the order “completely unconstitutional”, saying:
The Right to Privacy is part of the fundamental Right to Life under Article 21.
A mandatory, non-removable government app is a dangerous surveillance tool.
It could track every citizen’s activities, conversations, and decisions.
He demanded that the order be immediately withdrawn.
Congress MP Karti Chidambaram likened the app to an enhanced Pegasus spyware.
Shiv Sena MP Priyanka Chaturvedi compared the directive to a “Big Boss surveillance moment”, accusing the government of trying to secretly intrude into citizens’ phones. She warned that such actions would face strong resistance.
