The Prevention of Terrorism Act, 2002

43. Interception of communication in emergency.-

1.  Notwithstanding anything contained in any other provision of this Chapter, an officer not below the rank of Additional Director General of Police or a police officer of equivalent rank who reasonably de ermines that-

a.   an emergency situation exists that involves-

  i.   immediate danger of death or serious physical injury to any person; or

  ii.   conspiratorial activities threatening the security or interest of the State; or (iii) conspiratorial activities, characteristic of a terrorist act, that requires a wire, electronic or oral communication to be intercepted before an order from the Competent Authority authorising such interception can, with due diligence, be obtained; and

a.  

b.   there are grounds on which an order should be issued under this section to authorise such interception, may authorise, in writing, the investigating officer to intercept such wire, electronic or oral communication, if an application for an order approving the interception is made in accordance with the provisions of sub-sections (1) and (2) of section 38 w thin forty-eight hours after the interception has occurred, or begins to occur.

1.  

2.  In the absence of an order approving the interception made under sub-section (1), such interception shall immediately terminate when the communication sought is obtained or when the application for the order is rejected, whichever is earlier; and in he event of an application for permitting interception being rejected under sub-section (1) of section 39 or an application under sub-section (1) of this section for approval being rejected, or in any other case where the interception is terminated without an order having been issued, the contents of any wire, electronic or oral communication intercepted shall be treated as having been obtained in violation of this section.

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