Pegasus: Supreme Court Hearing On Plea Seeking SIT Probe-Live Updates

Matter adjourned to Tomorrow 

CJI: If govt is reluctant and say they don’t want to file an affidavit how do we compel them?

Sibal: Let them say that, then we can argue the other issues. In that case the matter gets even more serious because they are not denying it

Sibal: let them say if the government used it or not, That will not reveal any national security issue. 

SG: IT Act, This was beautiful legislation laid down during Mr sibal’s tenure. Its a comprehensive legislation, you can’t go beyond that.

Sibal: All we want to know is if Government used #Pegasus. They can say no

SG; Will you withdraw it if we say no?

Sibal: See Mr Mehta, Beauty over the years is no longer beautiful. It was beautiful, Over the years its lost its beauty, the way you are using it. 

SG: if lordship approves Committee can be constituted of independent neutral experts and not government officers

CJI: We understand this is affidavit you have filed.

SG: A committee may be formed and terms of reference can be laid down by court. Mr Dwivedi said government can’t be trusted. I disagree, it can be. 

SG Mehta: The experts can. They can be conferred by the court with whatever terms of reference. They can be mandated by this court.

SG: there’s nothing to hide. Kindly appreciate bona fide gesture of the Government.

CJI: We are not saying anything against government. Thats not issue. There are areas which committee can go into while some they cant. 

CJI: There are 2 issues, experts can go into angle of software being used or not. Other issues of permission, procurement has to be examined too, who will examine?

CJI: how will committee will look into it?

SG: They can be authorised 

SG: What’s stated in reply is precisely this, what petitioners want. All these questions can only be gone into by technical experts. If i say no, they will not withdraw. They will say then that no needs to be examined

SG: If it needs to be gone into, I’m ready. Allow us to have a committee. A false narrative is being created. It’s showing a good faith decision by the government. We have made clear before Parliament that we have gone by statutory regime.