Pegasus case: Observe discipline, refrain from debating outside court, SC tells petitioners

A three-judge bench of Supreme Court headed by Chief Justice of India NV Ramana today assembled to hear a clutch of petitions demanding a court-monitored probe into reports which alleged that the Narendra Modi government used Israeli firm NSO’s spyware software Pegasus to snoop on politicians, activists, and journalists. The petitions were filed by journalist N Ram, Jagdeep Chhokar, Paranjoy Guha Thakurta, John Brittas, Editors Guild of India, and TMC leader Yashwant Sinha among others.

Appearing for the government, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta said that he is going through the details of the case and he needs instructions from the government. He requested the court to not keep the next hearing before Friday. However, the CJI, citing personal inconvenience, posted the matter for August 16 while urging the parties involved to debate the issue inside the court.