The West Bengal government on Wednesday assured the Supreme Court that the Commission of Inquiry set up by it to probe allegations of unauthorized surveillance would be used. Pegasus The software will not do anything until the court hears the petition challenging the setting up of the panel and other pending petitions seeking a probe into the matter.
Senior advocate Abhishek Singhvi, appearing for the state government, told a bench headed by Chief Justice of India NV Ramana that the court told them that it will take up all the matters together and is expected to wait for any process till then.
The bench, also comprising Justices DY Chandrachud and Surya Kant, issued notice on a petition by NGO Global Village Foundation, seeking quashing of the July 27 notification issued by the West Bengal government, in which the former Supreme Court A two-member panel of Judge, Justice Madan B. Lokur, and former Chief Justice of the Calcutta High Court, Justice Jyotirmoy Bhattacharya.
Senior advocate Harish Salve, appearing for the NGO, said, “It is a clear point of law”.
Intervening, the bench asked, “Why don’t we listen along with other matters?” The court was referring to a bunch of already pending petitions seeking an independent inquiry into the allegations.
“You cannot have two parallel inquiries. Please see that when the court is hearing the matter, nothing has been done in the proceedings there,” Salve said.
As Singhvi objected, the CJI remarked, “If we are hearing other matters, we expect some restraint.” He added that since the present issue is linked to other issues, “Frankly, we hope you can wait. We will hear the matter sometime next week.
Justice Surya Kant told Singhvi that the pending petitions are likely to have pan-India effect and the court will benefit from his assistance in those matters as well, if it hears the NGO’s plea.
Singhvi replied that “between now and next week, nothing is happening”. He urged the court not to make any adverse remarks and said, “The word of your authority will make a splash.”
The CJI told him, “We were just saying that we will list it along with other matters. You are forcing us to pass orders.”
“Please don’t say anything, I will tell,” said Singhvi.
“What we want is wait, show impediment,” the court said, adding that it will hear the cases and pass a comprehensive order.
The NGO has challenged the notification on the ground of lack of jurisdiction and questioned the constitution of the commission after the apex court had already seized the matter.
The petition argued that “Given the seriousness of the issue and the impact on the citizens of the country, as well as its cross-border implications, there is a need for a thorough investigation of the Pegasus dispute. This cannot be done in a trivial and unconstitutional manner.” as demanded by the Government of West Bengal.
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