The Supreme Court on Friday, 13 December, dismissed all the petitions seeking a probe in decision-making process of Rafale fighter jets deal with France.
The deal started with procurement of 126 fighter jets and switched to a 36 fighter jet deal later. The apex court was hearing four petitions which were filed in 2016 after discrepancy in the price quoted by the Centre . Here is a year-wise chronology of events of the deal:
MoD Issues Request for Procurement of 126 Fighter Jets
30 December 2002
Defence Procurement Procedures (DPP) adopted to streamline procurement procedures.
28 August 2007
Ministry of Defence issues Request for Proposal for procurement of 126 MMRCA (medium multi-role combat aircraft) fighters.
4 September 2008
Mukesh Ambani-led Reliance group incorporates Reliance Aerospace Technologies Ltd (RATL).
May 2011
Air Force shortlists Rafale and Eurofighter jets.
30 January 30 2012
Dassault Aviation's Rafale aircraft comes up with the lowest bid.
From 126 Aircrafts to 36 Aircrafts
13 March 13 2014
Work Share agreement signed between HAL and Dassault Aviation under which they were responsible for 70 per cent and 30 per cent of the work, respectively, for 108 aircraft.
8 August 2014
Then defence minister Arun Jaitley tells Parliament that 18 direct 'fly-away' aircraft expected to be delivered in 3-4 years from signing of the contract. Remaining 108 aircraft to be delivered in the next seven years.
8 April 2015
The then foreign secretary says detailed discussions underway between Dassault, MoD and HAL.
10 April 2015
New deal for acquisition of 36 direct 'fly-away' aircraft from France announced.
26 January 2016
India and France sign MoU for 36 Rafale aircraft.
23 September 2016
Inter-governmental agreement signed.
Price Paid for 36 Airfcrafts Double the Amount Quoted by the Govt
18 November 2016
Government states in Parliament that the cost of each Rafale aircraft to be approximately Rs 670 crore and that all aircraft will be delivered by April 2022.
31 December 2016: Dassault Aviation’s Annual Report reveals the actual price paid for the 36 aircrafts at about Rs 60,000 crore, more than double the government’s stated price in Parliament.
PIL Seeking Probe in Govt’s Decision-Making Procedure Filed
13 March 13 2018
PIL in SC seeks independent probe into Centre's decision to procure 36 Rafale fighter jets from France and disclosure of the cost involved in the deal before Parliament.
5 September 2018
SC agrees to hear PIL seeking stay on Rafale fighter jet deal.
18 September 2018
SC adjourns hearing on PIL seeking stay on Rafale fighter jet deal to 10 October.
8 October 2018
SC agrees to hear on 10 October fresh PIL seeking direction to Centre to file in "sealed cover" the details of the agreement for buying 36 Rafale fighter Jets.
Submit Details of Decision-Making Process in a Sealed Cover: SC to Govt
10 October 2018
SC asks Centre to provide details of decision making process in the Rafale fighter jet deal in a sealed cover.
24 October 2018
Former Union ministers Yashwant Sinha and Arun Shourie and activist-lawyer Prashant Bhushan moves SC, seeking registration of FIR into Rafale fighter jet deal.
31 October 2018
SC asks Centre to place before it in a sealed cover within 10 days the pricing details of 36 Rafale fighter jets.
12 November 2018
Centre places price details of 36 Rafale fighter jets in a sealed cover before SC. It also gives details of steps that led to finalisation of the Rafale deal.
No Occasion to Doubt Decision-Making Process: SC
14 November 2018
SC reserves order on pleas seeking court-monitored probe in Rafale deal.
14 December 2018
SC says there is no occasion to doubt the decision-making process of the Modi government and dismisses all the petitions seeking direction to the CBI to register an FIR for alleged irregularities in the jet deal.
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