"State Can’t get free pass over national security" : SC Orders Pegasus Probe

The Supreme Court on Wednesday, October 27 said it has set up a committee to probe the Pegasus snooping allegations, adding that the committee, which will be headed by a retired judge, will look into seven broad issues. The bench of Justice CJI Ramana, Justice Hima Kohli and Justice Surya Kant said it has also rejected the Union government’s request to allow them to set up the committee. The Supreme Court said that the committee will be headed by retired judge Justice RV Raveendran and the committee has been asked to expeditiously probe this matter. Today, The bench criticised the response of the central government, represented by Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, which had termed reports about the use of Pegasus as motivated, and refused to clarify whether or not it had purchased and used the spyware. The court acknowledged that the Centre "may decline to provide information when constitutional considerations exist, such as those pertaining to the security of the State."At the same time, it also held that this does not mean that the Centre can avoid a review of their actions by the court.