The pleas seeking an independent probe are related to reports of alleged snooping by government agencies on eminent citizens, politicians and scribes by using Israeli firm NSO's spyware Pegasus.
The Supreme Court on Thursday said that it will pass an order next week on pleas seeking independent probe into Pegasus snooping matter. The apex court wants to set up a committee to inquire into the row. The court, however, observed that experts that it wanted to appoint to the committee wouldn’t be able participate, citing personal reasons.
The Centre on Monday told the Supreme Court it doesn't wish to file detailed affidavit on pleas seeking independent probe into Pegasus issue.
The court is hearing as many as 12 pleas, including the one filed by the Editors Guild of India, seeking an independent probe into the Pegasus matter.
An international media consortium has reported that over 300 verified Indian mobile phone numbers were on the list of potential targets for surveillance using Pegasus spyware.
The government said its position on the alleged Pegasus snooping has already been clarified in Parliament by IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw.
Pegasus snooping controversy: The government has said that no transaction was done with the NSO Group, which sells the spyware.
In the midst of the Pegasus snooping controversy, the defence ministry said it did not have any transaction with the NSO Group, which sells the spyware.
The opposition has been demanding a discussion in Parliament on the Pegasus row and its leaders have been giving adjournment notices every day.
The opposition has been demanding a discussion in Parliament on the Pegasus row and its leaders have been giving adjournment notices every day.
Attacking the government, Chidambaram said another case of misuse of Pegasus spyware has been revealed now with France's national cybersecurity agency confirming that Pegasus spyware was infiltrated into phones belonging to two journalists of Mediapart, an investigative journal in France.
Representatives of several bodies visited the office of NSO to assess the allegations raised in regards to the company on Wednesday, a spokesperson for Israel's Ministry of Defence said.
Union Minister Pralhad Joshi said the controversy over Pegasus was a "non-issue" and that the government was ready for discussions on people-related issues.
The Pegasus issue affects the freedom of citizens, the lawyer, appearing for N Ram and Shashi Kumar said, and added that opposition leaders, journalists and even court staff have been put under surveillance.
Over 500 individuals and groups have written to CJI seeking immediate intervention of the Supreme Court in the alleged Pegasus snooping matter and declare a “moratorium on the export, sale, transfer and use of Pegasus” spyware in the country.
Rahul Gandhi has asked the government not to waste more time of Parliament and let the opposition raise issues of inflation, farmers and Pegasus in the House.
Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury said that Opposition MPs were raising the concern of the people and the government is not listening to Opposition parties.
Opposition MPs, especially from the Congress and Trinamool Congress, may face action for indulging in objectionable acts on the floor of the Lok Sabha.
Opposition MPs created ruckus in the Lok Sabha while protesting over Pegasus and other issues. Congress members were even seen throwing papers at the Chair and Treasury benches.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday accused the Modi government of using Pegasus spyware against the country's institutions. Addressing the media outside at Vijay Chowk near Parliament, Rahul said that the government is wrongly accusing the opposition of not allowing the Parliament to function. He said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has "inserted a weapon in the phones" of the country's citizens and called it an act of treason.
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