The Supreme Court on Tuesday told Pegasus Probe petitioners that they should “have faith in the system” and abstain from engaging or take part in “debates on social media”.
A three-judge bench headed by CJI NV Ramana stated: “Nobody should cross the limit and all will be given the opportunity in the case. We are not against debates but when the matter is in court, it should be deliberated here.” It also asked parties to answer the queries through proper debate in court and not outside.
The court also defered further hearing on the Pegasus petitions to Monday, after Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the government, requested for more time.
Pegasus Probe Petition : Court tells petitioners not to engage in social debates
On August 5, the top court had explained the allegations as “serious” and had sought from the parties copies of their petitions to the government counsel after which it would hear the matter again. “No doubt, the allegations are serious, if the reports are true,” the bench had observed last week although it did not issue notice to the Centre in the cases.
There are 3 petitions before the court in the matter, one filed by senior journalists N Ram and Shashi Kumar, another by advocate M L Sharma and a third one by CPI(M) Rajya Sabha MP John Brittas. Ram and Kumar have sought a probe by a sitting or former judge of the SC into the allegations.
Pegasus Probe Petitioners remarked in their plea that targeted surveillance is invasion to privacy of people
The duo said in their plea that such “targeted surveillance” using a “military-grade spyware” is a “grossly disproportionate invasion of the right to privacy”.
Supreme Court adjourns hearing into alleged Pegasus scandal till August 16
The petition by Brittas has sought a probe into the revelations in the media on the alleged spying and said the spyware allegations give two inferences – that it was done by the Indian government or by a foreign agency.
Meanwhile the Indian Parliament session which is underway has been stalled and adjouned till 11 am, 4th August
