Rafale Deal: Supreme Court reserves order on petitions seeking probe into agreement
The Supreme Court on Wednesday reserved its order on petitions seeking court-monitored probe into procurement of 36 Rafale fighter jets from France. A bench comprising Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi and Justices SK Kaul and KM Joseph concluded the arguments advanced by various parties which have also sought registration of FIR in connection with the alleged irregularities in the deal.
Earlier in the day, the Narendra Modi government opposed the judicial review of the controversial Rafale deal in the Supreme Court. Appearing for the Centre, Attorney General KK Venugopal told the court that the matter was to be determined by the defence experts and can't be reviewed judicially.
Also Read | Virat Kohli and the Adelaide love affair: A match made in heaven
“We have disclosed everything to the court out of respect. But it’s a matter to be determined by the defence experts and can’t be reviewed judicially," the Attorney General said.
The Supreme Court was examining the pricing details of the Rafale deal, submitted by the Centre before the court in a sealed cover on Tuesday. During the hearing, the petitioners seeking a court-monitored investigation into the deal also made their submissions.
Senior Supreme Court lawyer Prashant Bhushan, who appeared for former BJP leader Arun Shourie, argued that the government had declared the price of the aircraft twice in Parliament. However, now they are saying they can’t reveal the price citing secrecy.
To counter Bhushan, the Attorney General said that the secrecy was not on the pricing of Rafale aircraft but on the weaponry and avionics.
Also Read | Ranveer Deepika wedding: DeepVeer are OFFICIALLY man and the wife!
“Secrecy on the pricing of Rafale aircraft is with respect to the weaponry and certain other components that we don't want our adversary to know. The cost disclosed in the Parliament was only regarding the basic craft,” the AG said.
On this, Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi said that unless the court decides to get into the issue, there is no question of any arguments on the price of Rafale aircraft.
(With PTI inputs)
For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps.
More from India
Do You Know....Ambedkar as a Social Scientist?
10th anniversary of Crimea: A Photo Exhibition was organized at the Russian House in New Delhi
GATORADE USES DATA TO UNLOCK URBAN PLAYGROUNDS, WITH THEIR INITIATIVE 'TURF FINDER'
News Nation Network Receives Prestigious Amity Corporate Excellence Award at INBUSH ERA Global Summit
Foreign Ministers of Finland and India Unveil a Logo Marking 75 Years of Diplomatic Ties