Rajya Sabha passed a bill aimed at repealing the Indian Post Office Act of 1898 while consolidating and amending laws pertaining to post offices in India. During the proceedings, opposition members expressed concerns about certain provisions of the bill, questioning whether the government intended to establish a “surveillance state.”
In response to the raised apprehensions, Minister of State for Communications Devusinh Chauhan dismissed the concerns, emphasizing that provisions related to national security were present in the previous version of the Post Office Bill. Chauhan asserted that the government had the right to monitor the transportation of illegal substances, such as narcotics, through postal networks in the interest of public safety.
The bill authorizes the Central Government to empower designated officers to intercept, open, or detain items for reasons including the security of the State, friendly relations with foreign states, public order, emergency situations, or public safety, or in response to contraventions of existing laws.
The legislation was passed by a voice vote following a reply by Minister for Communications, Electronics & Information Technology Ashwini Vaishnaw. The bill outlines that the Post Office must offer services prescribed by the Central Government through rules, with the Director General of Postal Services responsible for regulating activities and determining charges.
During the debate, opposition members expressed concerns about the government’s authority to open any parcel. YSRCP’s V Vijayasai Reddy supported the bill, considering it a positive step for postal service pillars like reliability, reach, and relevance. Suggestions were made to rethink pricing, digitize services, and invest in rural financial services.
However, Shiv Sena’s Priyanka Chaturvedi raised surveillance concerns, particularly regarding clauses 9 and 10 of the bill. She emphasized potential surveillance risks and the lack of liability for authorities once the bill is enacted. CPI’s P Sandosh Kumar and CPI-M’s AA Rahim criticized the bill, with Rahim expressing concerns about vacant posts and the potential privatization of the postal sector.
AAP MP Raghav Chadha alleged a “Big Brother” syndrome in the bill, stating that it granted unchecked power to the government to open, read, detain, and intercept mail without clear limitations. He also called for a Joint Parliamentary Committee investigation into recent iPhone hacking alerts.
