SC asks Centre to give details of the pricing and strategic details of Rafale fighter aircraft in sealed cover in 10 days.
SC also asks Centre to give copies of the decision making process details without any strategic or secret details to petitioner and parties who have filed PILs.
Attorney general K K Venugopal said most details about Rafale jets, including its pricing, would be covered under official secrets Act and it would not be possible for te government to share it with anyone.
A bench of CJI Ranjan Gogoi and Justices U U Lalit and K M Joseph said if the government feels the pricing of Rafale jet can't be shared even in sealed cover with the court, then let it file an affidavit to that effect.
Petitioner Prashant Bhushan said there should be a court monitored CBI probe into the deals. SC said that can wait.
When Bhushan pressed further with the plea for Court monitored CBI probe, CJI Gogoi said "let CBI put its house in order first."
Petitioner Prashant Bhushan said there should be a court monitored CBI probe into the deals. SC said that can wait.
When Bhushan pressed further with the plea for Court monitored CBI probe, CJI Gogoi said "let CBI put its house in order first."
SC said no petitioner has questioned the suitability of Rafale jets and its utility for Indian Air Force. The only question is about the bona code in making the decision and pricing of the Rafale jets.
SC said the Centre must bring in public domain the details of decision making process for purchase of 36 Rafale jets from Dassault through intergovernmental agreement between India and France. But, without giving out any strategic inputs of the purchase, it said.
Before AG raised objection, SC told the Centre that it would like to be appraised of the details of price/cost of Rafale jets and the advantages of the deals which should be submitted to the court in 10 days. SC fixed hearing on November 12.
