Pegasus row: Supreme Court to pass order as Govt refuses to file detailed affidavit

The Supreme Court on Monday will pass an interim order as early as this week on petitions seeking probe into Pegasus surveillance scandal as the government refused to file a detailed affidavit.

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta citing national security stated to the apex court that the govt "... cannot file affidavits on Pegasus (as it) will affect national security... We cannot let terrorists know what software are being used." The centre had sought time twice to prepare for this affidavit that now will not be furnished.

Making an observation on the lack of the affidavit the Bench of Chief Justice of India (CJI) NV Ramana and Justices Surya Kant and Hima Kohli stated to the govt "You have repeatedly been saying that you don't want to put anything in affidavit. We also don't want security issues to be put here. Presumably a committee has been formed and then the report will be submitted here. Now we have to look into whole issue and decide something. Mr Mehta beating around the issue is not the question here. Let us see what to do.

The court reserved interim orders and said it would announce them in 2-3 days, saying the government could approach the court before then if it changed its mind on filing an affidavit.