17 December,2021 01:58 PM IST | New Delhi | IANS
Supreme Court of India. File Pic
The Supreme Court on Friday stayed the state appointed commission led by former top court judge Madan B. Lokur, to conduct an inquiry into the Pegasus snooping allegations.
A bench headed by Chief Justice N.V. Ramana also issued notice to the West Bengal government on a plea, which questioned the commission. The bench remarked, "How can there be a parallel probe?"
Senior advocate Harish Salve, appearing for the petitioner NGO 'Global Village Foundation Charitable Trust', submitted before the bench also comprising Justices Surya Kant and Hima Kohli that the petitioner is challenging the proceedings of the West Bengal commission.
Also Read: Activist Rona Wilson's phone infected with Pegasus spyware, says new forensic analysis
ALSO READ
Uttar Pradesh: 2 Bahraich violence accused suffer injuries in police encounter
Railways reduces time limit for advance train reservation, check details
Supreme Court to hear plea on Jammu and Kashmir statehood restoration
Andhra Pradesh: Amaravati skies to be lit up by 5,000 drones on Oct 22-23
Nayab Singh Saini takes oath as Haryana CM for the second time
The bench queried senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi, representing the West Bengal government, what happened to the oral undertaking given by him that the state would not proceed with the matter.
The bench said: "Mr Singhvi, what is this? Last time you gave the undertaking. We wanted to record, you said don't record. Again, you started the inquiry?"
Singhvi replied that the state government cannot control the commission and asked the court to call their counsel and pass orders. "As a state, I can't restrain the commission," Singhvi submitted.
The bench said: "We understand the state's predicament. Issue notice to all parties. We stay proceedings."
On October 27, the top court had constituted an independent committee headed by former Supreme Court judge Justice R.V. Raveendran to probe into the Pegasus allegations.
This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever.
