Give Rafale pricing details in 10 days, SC tells govt
STEPPING IN Centre says not possible since info not provided even to Parliament NEWDELHI:
The Supreme Court on Wednesday directed the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government to it give details of pricing details of the 36 Rafale fighter jets bought from France, even as the Centre resisted sharing pricing details of the aircraft.
A three judge bench led by the Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi ordered that details of pricing be submitted to the court in a sealed cover within 10 days. The government’s top law officer, attorney general of India KK Venugopal, however, told the court that it would not be possible for the government to provide pricing details since this information had not been provided to Parliament either.
The Supreme Court, which is hearing petitions questioning the deal, told Venugopal to make this point in their affidavit. “If you feel that pricing is an exclusive issue, mention it in the affidavit,” the judges told the AG verbally.
Wednesday’s development assumes significance in the backdrop of the fact that almost a fortnight ago the Supreme Court had sought details of the steps in the decision making process leading to the award of the order for the defence equipment.
The court has now gone a step further calling for details of the pricing.
The court said they had received the report about the process and wanted the government to share them with the petitioners too to the extent possible. “We are of the view that the information conveyed upon in the report, which can legitimately be brought into the public domain, be made available to the lead counsel of the petitioners in all cases. Along with the said facts, further details that could legitimately come in the public domain with respect to the induction of the Indian offset partner, if any, be also furnished to the lead counsel of the parties,” the bench ordered.
It said that if there were any details that “may be considered to be strategic and confidential” may at this stage be placed before the court and may not be furnished to the petitioners. Venugopal submitted several passages of the information given cannnot be shared because they are covered under the Official Secrets Act. “Please read our order. Give whatever is possible,” CJI told the AG.
The top court gave 10 days to the government to comply with the order. Petitioners have another seven days to file their responses to the information shared with them after which the court will hear the matter again on November 14.
Soon after the Supreme Court’s Wednesday order, the Congress hit back at the BJP government.