Pegasus- Supreme Court Hearing-LIVE UPDATES

CJI: The issue before us is, we have citizens saying their phones were tapped. The Minister also says that.

SG: The Minister only referred to reports regarding that.

CJI : We are sorry to say Mr.Mehta. We are going back again and again on the point as if we want to know everything the govt is doing. We reiterate we don't want to know anything about national security.

SG says that making the issue regarding use of Pegasus a matter of affidavit or public discourse will not be interest of national security or larger national interest.

SG : If some individuals are claiming invasion of privacy, the government takes it seriously. It has to be gone into and it will be gone into. For this, the govt has suggested the formation of a committee.

Solicitor General stresses on the IT Minister's statement that any form of illegal surveillance is not possible within our robust system of checks and balances. "This is important", SG highlights this statement of IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw

SG refers to the statement made by new IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw in recent monsoon session.

"This is the latest statement made by the Minister on the floor of the house", SG says, reading out the statement.

CJI refers to the statement made by former IT Minister RS Prasad in 2019 on Pegasus issue.

SG says the statement is referred in the counter-affidavit.

CJI : We are again reiterating we are not interested in knowing matters related to security or defence. We are only concerned, as my brother said, we have journalist, activists etc before us.. to know whether Govt has used any method other than admissible under law.

Justice Surya Kant : All these issues can be limited to the class of citizens alleging violation of right to privacy under Article 21.

Justice Surya Kant : Last time we clarified that none is interested in matters related to national security. The only limited affidavit which we were expecting you to file was...there are citizens before us alleging infringement of rights..if you could clarify...