Sensitive matter, being made sensational: Solicitor General Tushar Mehta defends Centre's expert committee for Pegasus probe

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta told the Supreme Court on Monday that the Pegasus Spyware issue was a sensitive one, and that attempts were being made to turn it into a sensational one..The Supreme Court today took note of the fact that the affidavit filed by the Central government in response to pleas calling for investigation into the Pegasus scandal did not reveal whether or not it has used the spyware.The Bench of Chief Justice of India NV Ramana and Justices Surya Kant and Aniruddha Bose also observed that the Centre was reluctant to take a stand before the top court."Whatever you want to say why don't you file an affidavit? We will also get a clear picture," the Court said..[BREAKING] Centre to constitute Committee of Experts to look into Pegasus scandal, denies all allegations before Supreme Court.This, after Senior Advocates Kapil Sibal, Rakesh Dwivedi and Meenakshi Arora sought a direct answer on oath as to whether the government used the Pegasus spyware or not. .Countering these arguments, SG Mehta submitted that it will be a question of national security if this is examined in the top court.."We have denied all allegations...IT Minister has clarified that a web portal has published a sensational story before Parliament session begins. There is nothing to hide or that needs examination. It's a scientific thing and we will appoint a neutral body of persons and experts to dispel any wrong narrative spread by certain vested interests and with an object of examining the issues raised. What more can Centre do? This is transparency," said the Solicitor General. .The Solicitor General also quipped as to how the petitions could be aimed at "achieving something else" than what the Court was hearing it for. ."If its fact finding then I am for it, but if its for sensationalizing which is alien to Article 32, then I cannot help it. It looks like petitioners want to go somewhere else other than what courts wants to see," submitted the law officer. .SG Mehta further submitted that whatever interception is done, it is only for the purposes of national security .He further impressed upon the Court the need to have a committee of experts appointed by the government to look into issue and dispel the narrative created with "vested interests" people. "Whether NSO has done etc and if it has to be examined, then an expert committee can see. If there is any other purpose behind the petition of which I am not aware, I cannot help it. All these question can only be decided by technical experts," said Mehta. .CJI Ramana the queried,"How will the technical committee check what authorizations have been given? What contracts were signed with respect to the issue of permission, sanction, procurement , non procurement etc?"SG Mehta replied that the Court can come up with the terms of reference of the committee of experts."There is nothing to hide, you can confer the jurisdiction upon the committee," said Mehta..The Court was hearing a batch of petitions seeking various prayers including a Special Investigation Team (SIT) probe, a judicial inquiry and directions to the government to reveal details about whether it had used the Pegasus software to spy on citizens..The matter will continue tomorrow. No formal notice has been issued to the Centre yet.