Tata's discomfiture and Chidambaram's strange argument

As noted on 28th November, Ratan Tata is aggrieved over the leak of tapped telephonic conversations. His petition in the Supreme Court pleading for an order against further public dissemination of private conversations is in the hearing stage. He has argued that right to privacy is an essential part of right to life guaranteed by Article 21 of our Constitution. He has sought to widen the implications saying that any damage to his reputation will also affect the interests of innumerable investors in the Tata group of companies. It is moot however if such an argument does not assume a larger right to privacy for some over others. While the court proceedings promise to be interesting, P.Chidambaram's public statement on leak of tapes is rather strange.

Economic Times dated 4th December quotes the minister as saying  that such leaks are inevitable when tapping relates to a major scam or tax violation. "I am afraid that when there is a major scam and a major tax violation and such conversations are recorded, things tend to get leaked. It is unfortunate but some of this is inevitable." Is it really so, Mr.Minister? If your private conversations are repeatedly telecast, will this reasoning appease you? When there is a major scam and therefore attempts at leak are expected, should not the government be more careful? Attempts to leak may be inevitable but not the leak itself. It is indeed scary when the government itself argues that crimes/misdemeanours/violations of constitutionally granted rights are inevitable and "therefore, grin and bear them". Of course, the last quote is not attributed to the minister.