SC To Hear Pegasus Case On Friday
New Delhi, Feb 22: The Supreme Court on Tuesday agreed to hear the Pegasus snooping case on Friday after Solicitor General Tushar Mehta sought adjournment as he has to attend a matter on Wednesday.
A Bench headed by Chief Justice N V Ramana deferred the case for Friday. The case was listed for hearing on Wednesday.
Mehta said: “Tomorrow the Pegasus matters are coming up. I am in a part-heard matter (PMLA validity case)… If it can be kept on Friday instead of tomorrow.” A technical expert committee set up to look into allegations of the government allegedly using Israeli software Pegasus to spy on politicians, activists and journalists has submitted its interim report to the apex court.
Last year, the apex court appointed the committee headed by former Supreme Court judge to look into the allegations of snooping. The court had said that in a democratic country governed by the rule of law, “indiscriminate spying on individuals cannot be allowed”.
It noted that in the absence of the Centre not clarifying its stand on the issue, the court had no option but to set up an expert panel.
The Pegasus row erupted last year as a global news consortium reported that the spyware was used by several countries to target activists, journalists and others including politicians and those in the civil society.
