'Judiciary must be well equipped to tackle cyber terror'

Voicing serious concern over the advent of cyber terrorism, Supreme Court Judge P Sathasivam today said judiciary should be well equipped to deal with such challenges and balance individual rights with the security of the nation.

Voicing serious concern over the advent of cyber terrorism, Supreme Court Judge P Sathasivam on Saturday said judiciary should be well equipped to deal with such challenges and balance individual rights with the security of the nation.

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Several of the most dangerous terrorist organisations were using information technology and "Our judiciary must be well equipped to deal with such challenges and uphold the rule of law balancing individual rights with security of the nation," he said at a seminar as part of the sesquicentennial celebrations of the Madras High Court in Chennai.

"Terror, terrorists, terrorism and trafficking, especially in drugs, are the burning issues of our time. In the present scenario, the world is confronting terrorism in its varied manifestations, which has shaken the very foundation of social fabric and world peace," the Judge said.

Though IT revolution has fuelled economic expansion, along with these benefits has come the dark side of IT -- cyber terrorism, he said.

"The idea of terrorists surreptitiously hacking into computer system to introduce a virus, to steal sensitive information, deface or swamp a website, or turn off a crucial public service or disrupt communal harmony as witnessed recently seriously concerns governments to take appropriate remedial action," Justice Sathasivam said.

Talking about the benefits of Right to Information Act, he said some habitual mischief makers were, however, misusing it to burden the establishment by seeking frivolous information.

Noting that the Supreme Court has taken a serious note of mischief makers in a latest judgement, he said the RTI Act must be a watchdog for governance.

"But the need of the hour is to balance the Right To Information with good governance," Sathasivam said.