SC to hear Pegasus case today, set to examine panel report on spying allegations

News reports on the controversy allege that a cross-section of people from journalists, activists, parliamentarians, government officials, lawyers and even court staffers were targeted using Pegasus

A Special Bench led by Chief Justice of India N.V. Ramana is scheduled to examine on May 20 an interim report of its technical committee, which is examining allegations of the government using Pegasus, the Israeli military grade software, to spy on citizens.

A separate application filed by advocate M.L. Sharma urging the court to take cognisance of a recent New York Times report that India bought Pegasus spyware from Israel is listed before the Bench, which also comprises Justices Surya Kant and Hima Kohli.

The case was scheduled to come up for hearing in February this year. However, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, for the government, had sought an adjournment.

The Pegasus case was listed for hearing on February 23, almost four months after the court set up the technical committee monitored by former Supreme Court judge Justice R.V. Raveendran on October 27 last year.

Twelve Pegasus petitions have been listed before the Bench on Thursday.

News reports on the controversy allege that a cross-section of people from journalists, activists, parliamentarians, government officials, lawyers and even court staffers were targeted using Pegasus.

The court had tasked the technical committee to “enquire, investigate and determine” whether the “Pegasus suite of spyware was used on phones or other devices of the citizens of India to access stored data, eavesdrop on conversations, intercept information and/or for any other purposes”.