New Delhi: Supreme court said on Monday that an affidavit filed by the Center on the issue related to the alleged
Whether the allegations have not been satisfied by espionage by the government Pegasus Spyware was used and asked if it would file an additional affidavit on the use of Pegasus.
A bench headed by Chief Justice of India NV Ramana sought a court-monitored probe into the government’s reports on August 17, hearing a batch of petitions for hearing the matter, which allegedly involved politicians, activists, court The Israeli software Pegasus was used to spy on its employees. , and journalists.
CJI Ramana said, “We will continue tomorrow. If you change your mind, let us know tomorrow. If Tushar Mehta can decide to file the affidavit, we have nothing to say, otherwise we will hear you all.” ” It said it cannot compel the Center to file an affidavit if it is “unwilling” to do so.
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the Centre, said the issue involved aspects of national security and was not so easy to address through affidavit.
Mehta asked whether the petitioners would withdraw the petitions seeking an independent probe into the issue if the government had filed an affidavit refusing to use Pegasus.
“We are dealing with a sensitive matter but an attempt is being made to sensationalize it. This matter will have national security implications. This matter cannot be submitted on affidavit etc. The minister concerned with this department has given details that How the Pegasus issue has been raging for the past few years
The laying down of facts would involve issues of national security,” Mehta told the bench.
During the hearing, the counsel for the petitioners repeatedly told the bench that the central government was refraining from answering the question whether it or any of its agencies had ever used Pegasus spyware.
The court should direct the government to give clarification on this issue.
Earlier in the day, the central government filed an affidavit and apprised the apex court that it has decided to constitute a committee of experts to look into all issues related to the alleged Pegasus espionage issue.
The Center also denied all allegations of espionage and said that the petitions are based on conjectures and there is no merit in the allegations.
NS Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology In its affidavit, it said, “It is submitted that with a view to dispel any false narrative spread by certain vested interests and to examine the issues raised, Union of India A committee of experts in the field will be constituted which will look into all aspects of the issue.”
At the beginning of the hearing, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta said that the Center is denying all the allegations and there is nothing to hide or need to be probed.
This is a scientific thing and we will appoint a neutral body of individuals and experts with a view to dispel any false narratives spread by some vested interests and to examine the issues raised, Mehta said.
Mehta said that if this court allows, a committee of independent neutral experts and not government officials can be constituted and the terms of reference can be prescribed by the court.
Senior advocate Kapil Sibal, appearing for senior journalists N Ram and Shashi Kumar, objected to the “limited affidavit” filed by the Center and said the government will have to state on oath that they have never used Pegasus spyware.
“The Government of India must state under oath whether they or their agencies have ever used Pegasus. This fact must either be denied or accepted.
This is not the case in the affidavit filed by the Centre. This affidavit does not respond to the issues raised by the petitioners,” Sibal said, adding that the government has broadly denied the petitions in general terms.
Sibal said the issue was not about individuals but “institutions” and it is the judiciary and the media that protect democracy and both have been attacked by Pegasus.
Sibal said, “France has started a national level investigation through court procedures, Israel is also investigating, but the Indian government says all is well. This is completely unacceptable. Let the government take an oath.” that they used Pegasus spyware, how it was used, and what deals were contracted.”
Eleven petitions have been filed before the apex court by senior journalist N Ram, and Communist Party of India (Marxist) Rajya Sabha MP John Brittas and advocate ML Sharma, former Union minister Yashwant Sinha. RSS Thinker KN Govindacharya.
Journalists Paranjoy Guha Thakurta, SNM Abdi, Prem Shankar Jha, Rupesh Kumar Singh And Ipsa Shatakshi, who is on the likely list of spyware targets of Pegasus spyware, had also approached the top court along with The Editors Guild of India (EGI).
Whether the allegations have not been satisfied by espionage by the government Pegasus Spyware was used and asked if it would file an additional affidavit on the use of Pegasus.
A bench headed by Chief Justice of India NV Ramana sought a court-monitored probe into the government’s reports on August 17, hearing a batch of petitions for hearing the matter, which allegedly involved politicians, activists, court The Israeli software Pegasus was used to spy on its employees. , and journalists.
CJI Ramana said, “We will continue tomorrow. If you change your mind, let us know tomorrow. If Tushar Mehta can decide to file the affidavit, we have nothing to say, otherwise we will hear you all.” ” It said it cannot compel the Center to file an affidavit if it is “unwilling” to do so.
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the Centre, said the issue involved aspects of national security and was not so easy to address through affidavit.
Mehta asked whether the petitioners would withdraw the petitions seeking an independent probe into the issue if the government had filed an affidavit refusing to use Pegasus.
“We are dealing with a sensitive matter but an attempt is being made to sensationalize it. This matter will have national security implications. This matter cannot be submitted on affidavit etc. The minister concerned with this department has given details that How the Pegasus issue has been raging for the past few years
The laying down of facts would involve issues of national security,” Mehta told the bench.
During the hearing, the counsel for the petitioners repeatedly told the bench that the central government was refraining from answering the question whether it or any of its agencies had ever used Pegasus spyware.
The court should direct the government to give clarification on this issue.
Earlier in the day, the central government filed an affidavit and apprised the apex court that it has decided to constitute a committee of experts to look into all issues related to the alleged Pegasus espionage issue.
The Center also denied all allegations of espionage and said that the petitions are based on conjectures and there is no merit in the allegations.
NS Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology In its affidavit, it said, “It is submitted that with a view to dispel any false narrative spread by certain vested interests and to examine the issues raised, Union of India A committee of experts in the field will be constituted which will look into all aspects of the issue.”
At the beginning of the hearing, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta said that the Center is denying all the allegations and there is nothing to hide or need to be probed.
This is a scientific thing and we will appoint a neutral body of individuals and experts with a view to dispel any false narratives spread by some vested interests and to examine the issues raised, Mehta said.
Mehta said that if this court allows, a committee of independent neutral experts and not government officials can be constituted and the terms of reference can be prescribed by the court.
Senior advocate Kapil Sibal, appearing for senior journalists N Ram and Shashi Kumar, objected to the “limited affidavit” filed by the Center and said the government will have to state on oath that they have never used Pegasus spyware.
“The Government of India must state under oath whether they or their agencies have ever used Pegasus. This fact must either be denied or accepted.
This is not the case in the affidavit filed by the Centre. This affidavit does not respond to the issues raised by the petitioners,” Sibal said, adding that the government has broadly denied the petitions in general terms.
Sibal said the issue was not about individuals but “institutions” and it is the judiciary and the media that protect democracy and both have been attacked by Pegasus.
Sibal said, “France has started a national level investigation through court procedures, Israel is also investigating, but the Indian government says all is well. This is completely unacceptable. Let the government take an oath.” that they used Pegasus spyware, how it was used, and what deals were contracted.”
Eleven petitions have been filed before the apex court by senior journalist N Ram, and Communist Party of India (Marxist) Rajya Sabha MP John Brittas and advocate ML Sharma, former Union minister Yashwant Sinha. RSS Thinker KN Govindacharya.
Journalists Paranjoy Guha Thakurta, SNM Abdi, Prem Shankar Jha, Rupesh Kumar Singh And Ipsa Shatakshi, who is on the likely list of spyware targets of Pegasus spyware, had also approached the top court along with The Editors Guild of India (EGI).
.