Controversy over Govt’s move to install ‘Sanchar Saathi’ in mobile phone sets
By Sunil Kumar Batra
New Delhi, Dec 2 (BVI): A controversy has erupted over the government’s move to install ‘Sanchar Saathi’ app in all mobile handsets, with the main opposition Congress party terming the move as “unconstitutional” and demanding its immediate rollback.
The government has mandated all mobile phone manufacturers to install the app, claiming that it was to “prevent the sale of non-genuine phones, stop misuse of telecom resources and enhance cybersecurity”.
The Department of Telecom (DoT) issued Directions dated 28.11.2025 mandating the manufacturer and importers of mobile handsets that are intended for use in India under the provisions of the Telecom Cyber Security to – “i) Ensure that the Sanchar Saathi mobile application is pre-installed on all mobile handsets manufactured or imported for use in India; ii) Ensure that the pre-installed Sanchar Saathi application is readily visible and accessible to the end users at the time of first use or device setup and that its functionalities are not disabled or restricted; and iii) For all such devices that have been already been manufactured and are in sales channels in India, the manufacturer and importers of mobile handsets shall make an endeavour to push the App through software updates.”
The government has asked the handset manufacturers and importers to comply with the direction in 90 days and report compliance within 120 day.
The Congress has strongly objected to the new direction saying “Big brother cannot watch us” and this DoT direction is beyond unconstitutional.
“The right to privacy is an intrinsic part of the fundamental right to life and liberty, enshrined in Article 21 of the Constitution,” K C Venugopal, Lok Sabha MP and General Secretary of the Congress party, posted on his social media handle X (Twitter).
He said a pre-loaded government app that cannot be uninstalled is a “dystopian” tool to monitor every Indian. It is a means to watch over every movement, interaction and decision of each citizen. “This is a part of the long series of relentless assaults on the Constitutional Rights of Indian citizens and will not be allowed to continue.
“We reject this direction and demand an immediate rollback,” Venugopal said.
“Mobile handsets bearing duplicate or spoofed IMEI pose serious endangerment to telecom cyber security. Spoofed/ Tampered IMEIs in telecom networks lead to situations where the same IMEI is working in different devices at different places simultaneously and pose challenges in action against such IMEIs. India has a big second-hand mobile device market. Cases have also been observed where stolen or blacklisted devices are being re-sold. It makes the purchaser abettor in crime and causes financial loss to them. The blocked/blacklisted IMEIs can be checked using the Sanchar Saathi App,” the DoT said in an official statement.
The DoT said that the Telecom Cyber Security (TCS) Rules empowers the Central Government to issue directions to manufacturers of telecommunication equipment bearing IMEI number to provide assistance as required in relation to tampered telecommunication equipment or IMEI number.
The Rules also mandates that such manufacturers or importers shall ensure compliance with the directions as may be issued by the Central Government for the purpose of giving effect to the rules. (BVI)
