Sashi Kumar | Photo: KK Santhosh
New Delhi: Senior Journalist Sashi Kumar welcomed the Supreme Court decision to constitute an expert committee to probe into the Pegasus snooping row. Sashi Kumar along with journalist N Ram and M P John Brittas had filed the petition in Supreme Court demanding a probe on the alleged snooping that involves several key figures in the country.
“This interim order is very welcome. We wanted clarity on whether Pegasus spyware was used by the government or not. The government told the court that they cannot say whether they hired the agency or not as it affects national security. It was a ridiculous stand and our worries are agreed by the court,” Sashi Kumar responded to mathrubhumi.com. “The court made it clear that a state cannot use national security as a free pass to intrude on an individual's privacy," he added.
Sashi Kumar also pointed out that the court has seen the 'irrationality' of the central government appointing an enquiry committee on the matter. “The court said that it did not make any sense. This is a petition against the government. It casts doubt on the government. Will it be right if the government itself appoints a committee? We demanded that a committee be appointed by the court and the court agreed to it. We have complete satisfaction in this decision,” he added.
SC on Wednesday appointed an independent technical committee overseen by former SC judge, Justice R V Raveendran to look into allegations that the central government used Israel spyware, Pegasus, to spy on its citizens.
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