SC Tells Bengal to Defer Pegasus Probe, to Pass 'Comprehensive Order' Next Week

The court was hearing a plea against Bengal government's constitution of an inquiry commission to probe the issue.

Supreme Court to hear Pegasus matters. Image used for representational purposes.

(Photo: Arnica Kala/The Quint)

The Supreme Court on Wednesday, 25 August, told the West Bengal government that it expects the state to show restraint and to hold off on its enquiry into the Pegasus issue till the apex court passes a judgment on the matter.

The apex court further stated that it will pass a comprehensive order on the Pegasus spyware matter next week, Bar and Bench reported.

The apex court, which was hearing a plea filed against the West Bengal government's constitution of an enquiry commission to look into the Pegasus snooping reports, did not pass a stay on the judicial probe directed by the state, as senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi assured the court that its message to hold off on the enquiry will be conveyed to the state government, Live Law reported.

The PIL lodged by an NGO named Global Village Foundation had argued that West Bengal's commission headed by former Supreme Court judge Madan B Lokur cannot conduct a parallel enquiry into the matter while it was still under the apex court's consideration.

Chief Justice of India NV Ramana, who was presiding over the case along with Justice Surya Kant, was quoted as saying by LiveLaw, "When we are hearing other matters, we expect some restraint. The present issue is connected to other issues. It will have a bearing on it. In all fairness, we expect you to wait."

The bench, issuing a notice on the matter, tagged the petition challenging the West Bengal's enquiry commission along with the other pleas submitted on the snooping issue, which are likely to be heard next week.

(With inputs from LiveLaw and Bar and Bench)