SC asks Modi Govt to submit details on Rafale Deal

Guwahati, October 11, 2018:

The Supreme Court on Wednesday ordered the Centre to submit “details of the decision-making process” in the Rafale deal in a sealed cover by October 29 in which the issues related to pricing or suitability of the fighter jet is not to be included.

The order was passed by a three-judge bench led by Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi and justices Sanjay Kishan Kaul and KM Joseph that did not issue the notices to the government based on PILs filed by lawyers Manoharlal Sharma and Vineet Dhanda, saying it wanted to see details of the deal for itself first.

“No notice! However, we would like to be apprised of the details of the process leading to the award of the defence equipment, i.e. Rafale,” the CJI said in his short order. The court made it clear that in passing the order was to “satisfy ourselves”.

“The steps in the decision-making process would not cover pricing or suitability for the IAF which is of a sensitive nature,” the CJI said. The case proceeding is listed for hearing on October 31.