New Delhi: In the latest development in the Pegasus matter, the Supreme Court said it would institute an expert committee to inquire into the Pegasus spyware row.
The Chief Justice of India NV Ramana stated that the court would pass a formal order on the appeal next week seeking an independent investigation into the Pegasus matter.
Additionally, the CJI pointed out that the order on the set of appeals was to be pronounced earlier, but now, it will be read out next week.
The CJI added that some experts have denied joining the committee, stating personal reasons.
In September, when SC had reserved its order on the matter, the bench said that it only wanted to know if the Centre used Pegasus spyware to keep track of citizens or not.
Earlier, during a hearing, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing the Centre, told the apex court that it has nothing to hide in this matter.
“If the particular software was used or not is not a matter for public discussion; it will bring threat to the national security if we do so,” said Mehta during the hearing.
Meanwhile, the petition seeking an independent investigation into the matter claims that the Centre is indulged in alleged snooping on citizens, journalists and politicians with the help of Israel’s Pegasus software.
International media consortium report claimed that more than 300 Indian mobile phone numbers were part of the thousands of potential targets for surveillance using the Pegasus software.
