The Supreme Court on Thursday indicated that it may setup a technical committee to probe the allegations of snooping by using thePegasus spyware on journalists, activists etc.
A bench headed by chief justice N.V. Ramana orally toldsenior advocate C.U. Singh, who is appearing for one of the petitioners inPegasus matter, that some experts have expressed their inability to join theprobe due to personal reasons and an order on the committee is expected nextweek.
Justice Ramana said that court wanted to pass orders thisweek, however, the orders were deferred as some members, who the court hadwanted to be part of the technical committee, had expressed personaldifficulties to be on the committee. "That is why it is taking time toconstitute the technical expert committee," he said, and further addedthat the court will finalize the members of the technical committee soon.
The Centre had already proposed to constitute an expertpanel, comprising of independent members, to examine the snooping allegations.Centre said this committee can submit its report to the top court.
On September 13, the Centre had told the Supreme Court itdoes not wish to file a detailed affidavit now clarifying whether Pegasusspyware was used or not, in its response to a batch of petitions seekingindependent probe into the alleged snooping.
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing the Centre,had submitted before the top court that the government will disclose alldetails in connection with the Pegasus case before a panel of domain expertsbut not on an affidavit for national security reasons. Mehta emphasized thatthere are terror organizations, which better not know which software is used tocombat terror etc. "It has its own pitfalls", he added.