The Supreme Court has stayed the ongoing probe by a Commission headed by former Apex Court judge, Justice M B Lokur, into the Pegasus snooping allegations after being appointed by the West Bengal government.

A Bench comprising Chief Justice N V Ramana and Justice Surya Kant and Justice Hima Kohli took note of the plea that despite the assurance of the West Bengal government that the Lokur panel would not proceed with the inquiry, the commission has commenced its work.

The Apex Court on October 27 had appointed a three-member panel of cyber experts to probe the alleged use of Israeli spyware Pegasus for surveillance of certain people in India, saying every citizen needs protection against privacy violation and mere invocation of national security by the State does not render the Court a mute spectator.

Former Supreme Court Judge Lokur and former Chief Justice of Calcutta High Court Justice Jyotirmay Bhattacharya are the members of the commission of inquiry announced by the West Bengal government last month.

An international media consortium had reported that over 300 verified Indian mobile phone numbers were on the list of potential targets for surveillance using Pegasus spyware.


With PTI inputs

PegasusCJI NV Ramana

Verdictum News Desk