SC orders expert panel probe into the Pegasus snooping row

In an important ruling in the Pegasus snooping scandal, the Supreme Court on Wednesday appointed a 3-member expert committee to probe the spying allegations.

The three-member committee will be headed by RV Raveendran, former Supreme Court Judge. Other members will be Alok Joshi and Sandeep Oberoi.

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The Allegations of snooping using the Pegasus software are about fundamental rights and "could have a chilling effect", the Supreme Court said.

Expressing dissatisfaction over the Centre's response, the top court said that it gave ample opportunity to the Centre to assist the court and respond to the allegation but the Centre's limited affidavit did not shed any light on the issue.

"We issued notice to the government. We gave ample opportunity to the government to give details of all action taken by it. But despite repeated chances, they gave a limited affidavit that does not give clarity. If they had clarified they would have reduced the burden on us. But that does not mean state gets a free pass every time national security is raised," the Supreme Court said.

In a strongly worded ruling, the court said that the government cannot be given a free pass by raising national security issue and the court cannot remain a mute spectator when there is serious allegation of violation of citizens' right.

"The nature of the allegations is about fundamental rights being violated. This could have a chilling effect. There are also allegations of foreign agencies being involved, which must be probed,? the SC said.

Some journalists and politicians had moved the top court seeking an independent probe into the allegations that Pegasus software was used to snoop on politicians, judges, activists and govt officials.