New Delhi Feb 22 PTI The Supreme Court agreed to hear on Friday instead of Wednesday a batch of pleas alleging use of Israeli spyware for surveillance of certain people in India after taking note of the submissions of the Solicitor General that he would be busy arguing a money laundering case in another court As per the cause list uploaded on the website of the apex court a bench headed by Chief Justice N V Ramana was scheduled to hear on Wednesday the pleas on the Pegasus issue for the first time after October 27 last year when it had ordered setting up of a three-member panel of cyber experts to probe the spying allegations The technical probe panel has submitted an interim report in the case The bench also comprising Justices A S Bopanna and Hima Kohli was urged by Solicitor General Tushar Mehta appearing for the Centre that the proposed hearing of the pleas on Wednesday be deferred to Friday February 25 as he would be arguing before another bench The Pegasus matters are coming up before your Lordships I am in part heard matter before court three in the PMLA Prevention of Money Laundering Act vires matters I will be on my legs tomorrow from 1030 If it Pegasus cases can be kept on Friday instead of Wednesday said the law officer All right you please inform the other side said the CJI Mehta said he would inform the counsel for the other side who had filed the PILs A special bench as per the website had listed as many as 12 PILs including the ones filed by the Editors Guild of India and veteran journalists N Ram and Sashi Kumar for hearing on Wednesday and was likely to peruse and analyse the report which was to be filed by the apex court-appointed panel The panel which included three experts on cyber security digital forensics networks and hardware was asked to inquire investigate and determine whether Pegasus spyware was used for snooping on citizens and their probe would be monitored by former apex court judge R V Raveendran The panel members were Naveen Kumar Chaudhary Prabaharan P and Ashwin Anil Gumaste Justice Raveendran who is heading the monitoring panel has been assisted by former IPS officer Alok Joshi and Sundeep Oberoi Chairman of Sub Committee in International Organisation of Standardisation International Electro-Technical CommissionJoint Technical Committee in monitoring the inquiry of the technical panel The committee is requested to prepare the report after a thorough inquiry and place it expeditiously before the court the bench had said Reports emerged recently that the probe panel has been facing difficulties as very few people were coming forward to depose before it or submit their devices for technical scrutiny In one of the significant verdicts in recent times over the issue of citizens right to privacy a bench headed by the CJI had on October 27 last year ordered setting up of the panel saying mere invocation of national security by the state cannot render the judiciary a mute spectator and had asserted that indiscriminate spying on individuals in a democratic country cannot be allowed 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 The apex court in its order had said that the probe panel would be empowered to enquire and investigate what stepsactions have been taken by the Centre after reports were published in 2019 about hacking of WhatsApp accounts of Indian citizens using the Pegasus suite of spyware whether any Pegasus suite was acquired by the Union of India or any state government or any central or state agency for use against the citizens of India If any governmental agency has used the Pegasus suite of spyware on the citizens of this country under what law rule guideline protocol or lawful procedure was such deployment made If any domestic entity person has used the spyware on the citizens of this country then is such a use authorised Any other matter or aspect which may be connected ancillary or incidental to the above terms of reference which the Committee may deem fit and proper to investigate the bench had said while deciding the terms of reference of the panel The top court had also directed the expert panel to make recommendations regarding enactment or amendment to existing law and procedures surrounding surveillance and for securing improved right to privacy enhancing and improving the cyber security of the nation and its assets The other recommendations which the expert panel has been asked to submit are to ensure prevention of invasion of citizens right to privacy other than in accordance with law by State andor non-State entities through such spyware regarding the establishment of a mechanism for citizens to raise grievances on suspicion of illegal surveillance of their devices PTI SJK SA

New Delhi Feb 21 PTI The Supreme Court is scheduled to hear on Wednesday a batch of petitions on the Pegasus issue for the first time after October 27 last year when it had ordered setting up of a three-member panel of cyber experts to probe allegations that the Israeli spyware was used for surveillance of certain people in India A bench comprising Chief Justice N V Ramana and Justices Surya Kant and Hima Kohli has listed as many as 12 PILs including the ones filed by Editors Guild of India and veteran journalists N Ram and Sashi Kumar for hearing on February 23 and is likely to peruse and analyse the report which was to be filed by the apex court-appointed panel The panel which included three experts on cyber security digital forensics networks and hardware was asked to enquire investigate and determine whether Pegasus spyware was used for snooping on citizens and their probe would be monitored by former apex court judge R V Raveendran The panel members were Naveen Kumar Chaudhary Prabaharan P and Ashwin Anil Gumaste Justice Raveendran who is heading the monitoring panel has been assisted by former IPS officer Alok Joshi and Sundeep Oberoi Chairman of Sub Committee in International Organisation of Standardisation International Electro-Technical CommissionJoint Technical Committee in monitoring the inquiry of the technical panel The committee is requested to prepare the report after a thorough inquiry and place it expeditiously before the court the bench had said In recent times reports emerged that the probe panel has been facing difficulties as very few people were coming forward to depose before it or submit their devices for technical scrutiny In one of the significant verdicts in recent times over the issue of citizens right to privacy a bench headed by the CJI had on October 27 last year ordered setting up of the panel saying mere invocation of national security by the state cannot render the judiciary a mute spectator and had asserted that indiscriminate spying on individuals in a democratic country cannot be allowed 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 PTI SJK SJK RT RT

Kochi (Kerala) [India], October 28 (ANI): While welcoming the Supreme Court verdict to constitute a three-member committee for probe into the Pegasus spyware case, Communist Party of India MP Binoy Viswam on Thursday alleged that the Central government might try to create hurdles in the probe.

New Delhi [India] October 28 (ANI): Reacting to the Supreme Court decision to constitute a three-member committee for probe into the alleged use of Israeli spyware Pegasus in India, Israel envoy to India on Thursday called it New Delhi's internal matter.

New Delhi Oct 27 PTI The use of Israeli spyware Pegasus was an attempt to crush Indian democracy and the appointment of a three-member panel of cyber experts by the Supreme Court to probe the snooping allegations is a big step that will help bring out the truth Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said on WednesdayAddressing a press conference here after the Supreme Court hearing Gandhi fired a fresh salvo at the Modi government as he contended that only the prime minister or the home minister could have ordered the use of Pegasus spyware and said that if the PM was using this as a personal tool then it is totally criminalHe is not above the nation He is not above the institutions the Congress leader said Gandhi said the Supreme Courts observations on Wednesday basically supported what the opposition parties had been saying and they will again raise the issue in Parliament demanding a debate on itThe opposition had disrupted proceedings during the last monsoon session with vociferous protests over the Pegasus issue after an international investigative consortium claimed that many Indian ministers politicians activists businessmen and journalists were potentially targeted by the Israeli company NSO Groups phone hacking softwareIn a suo motu statement in Parliament IT and Communications Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw had dismissed the reports saying that with several checks and balances being in place any sort of illegal surveillance by unauthorised persons is not possible in India He had said the allegations levelled just ahead of the monsoon session are aimed at maligning Indian democracyGandhi on Wednesday said that they had raised the Pegasus issue during the last Parliament session because we felt that it was an attack on the democratic structure on the foundations of our nationWe had jointly blocked Parliament And today the Supreme Court has given its opinion and basically supported what we were saying the former Congress chief saidWe were asking three basic questions -- who authorised Pegasus which agency which person authorised Pegasus as we all know Pegasus cannot be bought by a private individual it has to be bought by a governmentThe second question was who was it used against and the final thing was did any other country have access to information of our people he said and asked whether this data was kept outside the country or notNo answers were given to these questions Gandhi allegedWe welcome the Supreme Court order in the Pegasus matter It is not a matter of politics it is an attack on the democratic structure of the country on the people and their freedomOnly two people can direct this attack and when the truth comes out they will have no answers the Congress leader later said in a tweet in HindiHe also posted a picture on Instagram and asked whos watching using Pegasus He gave Narendra Modi Amit Shah EDCBI and the BJP as choices for the answerThe Pegasus is an attempt to crush Indian democracy and make sure that the vibrancy of the democracy the conversation that takes place in a democracy are crushed and the people are controlled Gandhi told reportersHe said it is a big step that the Supreme Court has said that they are going to look into this matter I am confident that we will get the truth out of thisResponding to a question on whether he has confidence in the SC probe Gandhi said he hoped the Supreme Court will do its job and provide justiceAsked whether he would still demand for a JPC probe he said since the matter is in the hands of the highest court we have to respect thatGandhi also claimed that the Congress government in Karnataka was toppled using the Pegasus spyware and central institutions of the country were being attacked using the spywareBut this is a deeper problem If the prime minister is using this as a personal toolif the data is arriving on the prime ministers desk then that is totally criminal and we will make sure that it is followed up he saidHe also noted that if data of Indians is being handed to a foreign country it is an attack on the national security of this country So there is no question of hiding behind national security They are attacking national security This is not just a political matter this is an existential matter for the country he said adding that the Congress is happy that the Supreme Court has accepted to look into thisWe will raise this again and we will try to have a debate in Parliament I am sure the BJP will not like that debate so they will make sure that debate is stalled but we will try to hold that debate and then we will tell the people of India that the idea of India is being attacked he saidThe Supreme Court on Wednesday appointed a three-member panel of cyber experts to probe the alleged use of Pegasus for surveillance of certain people in India saying every citizen needs protection against privacy violationFinding material that prima facie merits consideration a bench comprising Chief Justice N V Ramana and Justices Surya Kant and Hima Kohli declined to allow the Centre to appoint an expert panel of its own saying such a course would violate the settled judicial principle against biasThree experts on cyber security digital forensics networks and hardware were roped in by the Supreme Court to enquire investigate and determine whether Pegasus spyware was used for snooping on citizens and their probe would be monitored by former apex court judge R V RaveendranThe experts -- Naveen Kumar Chaudhary Prabaharan P and Ashwin Anil Gumaste -- would report to Justice RaveendranThe BJP on Wednesday asserted that the SC direction is in line with the governments affidavit on the matter PTI SKCASK SKC RT RT

New Delhi Oct 27 PTI The use of Israeli spyware Pegasus was an attempt to crush Indian democracy and the Supreme Court order appointing a three-member panel of cyber experts to probe the snooping allegations is a big step that will help bring out the truth Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said on WednesdayAddressing a press conference here after the Supreme Court hearing Gandhi fired a fresh salvo at the Modi government as he contended that only the prime minister or the home minister could have ordered the use of Pegasus spyware and said that if the PM was using this as a personal tool then it is totally criminal He said the Supreme Courts opinion on Wednesday basically supported what the Opposition parties had been saying and they will again raise the issue in Parliament demanding a debate on itThe opposition had disrupted proceedings during the last monsoon session with vociferous protests over the Pegasus issue after an international investigative consortium claimed that many Indian ministers politicians activists businessmen and journalists were potentially targeted by the Israeli company NSO Groups phone hacking softwareIn a suo motu statement in Parliament IT and Communications Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw had dismissed the reports saying that with several checks and balances being in place any sort of illegal surveillance by unauthorised persons is not possible in IndiaHe had said the allegations levelled just ahead of the monsoon session are aimed at maligning Indian democracy Gandhi on Wednesday said that they had raised the Pegasus issue during the last Parliament session because we felt that it was an attack on the democratic structure on the foundations of our nationWe had jointly blocked Parliament And today the Supreme Court has given its opinion and basically supported what we were saying the former Congress chief said We were asking three basic questions -- who authorised Pegasus which agency which person authorised Pegasus as we all know Pegasus cannot be bought by a private individual it has to be bought by a government the second question was who was it used against and the final thing was did any other country have access to information of our people he saidNo answers were given to these questions Gandhi allegedWe welcome the Supreme Court order in the Pegasus matter It is not a matter of politics it is an attack on the democratic structure of the country on the people and on their freedomOnly two people can direct this attack and when the truth comes out they will have no answers the Congress leader later said in a tweet in Hindi The Pegasus is an attempt to crush Indian democracy and make sure that the vibrancy of the democracy the conversation that takes place in a democracy are crushed and the people are controlled Gandhi told reporters He said it is a big step that the Supreme Court has said that they are going to look into this matter I am confident that we will get the truth out of thisResponding to a question Gandhi said he hoped the Supreme Court will do its job and provide justiceBut this is a deeper problem If the prime minister is using this as a personal toolif the data is arriving on the prime ministers desk then that is totally criminal and we will follow that up he saidGandhi also claimed that the government of Karnataka was toppled using the Pegasus spyware and central institutions of the country were being attacked using the spywareWe all know that is not the only attack that is taking place there are many different ways in which the idea of India is being attackedPegasus is of course a particularly nasty and a subversive way of doing it It is a way basically to control the politics of the country to frighten people to blackmail them not allowing the democratic process to work he allegedThe Congress is happy that the Supreme Court has accepted to look into this he said We will raise this again and we will try to have a debate in Parliament I am sure the BJP will not like that debate so they will make sure that debate is stalled but we will try to hold that debate he saidThe Supreme Court on Wednesday appointed a three-member panel of cyber experts to probe the alleged use of Pegasus for surveillance of certain people in India saying every citizen needs protection against privacy violation and mere invocation of national security by State does not render the court a mute spectatorFinding material that prima facie merits consideration a bench comprising Chief Justice N V Ramana and Justices Surya Kant and Hima Kohli declined to allow the Centre to appoint an expert panel on its own saying such a course would violate the settled judicial principle against biasThree experts on cyber security digital forensics networks and hardware were roped in by the Supreme Court to enquire investigate and determine whether Pegasus spyware was used for snooping on citizens and their probe would be monitored by former apex court judge R V RaveendranThe experts -- Naveen Kumar Chaudhary Prabaharan P and Ashwin Anil Gumaste -- would report to Justice Raveendran PTI SKCASK SKC RT RT

New Delhi [India], October 27 (ANI): Welcoming the Supreme Court decision to constitute a three-member committee for probe into the Pegasus spyware case, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday said the alleged surveillance "was an attempt to crush Indian democracy".

New Delhi Oct 27 PTI Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday termed as a big step the Supreme Court appointing a three-member panel of cyber experts to probe the alleged use of Israeli spyware Pegasus for surveillance of certain people and expressed confidence that truth would come outAt a press conference here Gandhi alleged that only the prime minister or the home minister could have ordered the use of Pegasus spywareDuring the last Parliament session the Opposition had jointly taken up the issue and had stalled proceedings demanding a probe he recalledWe were asking three basic questions -- who authorised Pegasus which agency which person authorised Pegasus as we all know Pegasus cannot be bought by a private individual it has to be bought by a government second question was who was it used against final thing was did any other country have access to information of our people the former Congress chief saidAsserting that alleged snooping using Pegasus is an attempt to crush Indian democracy Gandhi said it is a big step that the Supreme Court has said that they are going to look into this matter I am confident that we will get the truth out of thisWe are quite happy that the Supreme Court has accepted to look into this There is the institution of Parliament where we will raise this again and we will try to have a debate in Parliament I am sure the BJP will not like that debate so they will make sure that debate is stalled but we will try to hold that debate he saidThe Supreme Court on Wednesday 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 State does not render the court a mute spectatorFinding material that prima facie merits consideration a bench comprising Chief Justice N V Ramana and Justices Surya Kant and Hima Kohli declined the Centres plea to appoint an expert panel on its own saying such a course would violate settled judicial principle against biasThree experts on cyber security digital forensics networks and hardware were roped in by the Supreme Court to enquire investigate and determine whether Pegasus spyware was used for snooping on citizens and their probe would be monitored by former apex court judge R V RaveendranThe three-member technical panel which has been given wide ranging powers would comprise eminent experts Naveen Kumar Chaudhary Prabaharan P and Ashwin Anil Gumaste and report to Justice Raveendran PTI SKCASK ANB ANB

New Delhi [India], October 27 (ANI): Following the Supreme Court's decision to constitute a three-member committee to oversee the probe of the Pegasus spyware case, Communist Party of India (Marxist) General Secretary Sitaram Yechury on Wednesday said that the top court's decision is in the right direction to divulge the truth in the matter.

New Delhi [India], October 27 (ANI): Communist Party of India (CPI) leader D Raja on Wednesday welcomed the decision of the Supreme Court to form a technical committee to probe the Pegasus spyware case, saying that the government could not be given a free pass in the name of national security every time.