'Beyond unconstitutional': Congress demands immediate withdrawal of mandatory Sanchar Saathi app

New Delhi: The Indian Congress party has rejected the Department of Telecommunications' directive mandating the pre-installation of the Sanchar Saathi app on new mobile handsets, calling it unconstitutional and demanding its immediate withdrawal.

Congress General Secretary K C Venugopal argued that the right to privacy is a fundamental component of the right to life and liberty under Article 21 of the Constitution. “Big Brother cannot watch us,” he said, calling the mandatory pre-loading of a government app that cannot be uninstalled a dystopian measure that surveils citizens continuously.

Venugopal accused the move of being part of a broader assault on the constitutional rights of Indian citizens and called for the directive's immediate rollback. 

The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) issued directions under the Telecom Cyber Security Rules, 2024, requiring all mobile manufacturers and importers to pre-install the Sanchar Saathi app on devices intended for use in India. The app is designed to verify device authenticity, curb counterfeit handsets, report fraud, and protect telecom users.

According to the DoT order, the app must be visible and functional at setup, with no feature restrictions, and manufacturers must submit compliance reports within 120 days. Failure to comply will invite action under the Telecommunications Act, 2023, and related cybersecurity rules. The mandate covers both new devices and software updates for existing stock.

Sanchar Saathi enables users to check handset genuineness using the IMEI, report suspicious calls or messages, and block lost or stolen phones. Tampering with IMEI numbers is a punishable offence under Indian law, with penalties of imprisonment and fines.

With inputs from PTI