New Delhi: The Supreme Court
today sought responses from the Centre and the West Bengal government on a plea
challenging the setting up of a Commission of Inquiry by the state to probe
into the Pegasus snooping allegations.
A bench headed by Chief Justice NV Ramana issued notices to
the Centre and the West Bengal government on the plea and posted it for hearing
on August 25.
Advocate Saurabh Mishra, appearing for the petitioner, told
the bench that they have challenged the notification issued by the state
government constituting the Commission of Inquiry on the ground of
jurisdiction.
“We will issue notice,” the bench, also comprising justices
Surya Kant and Aniruddha Bose, said.
Former Supreme Court judge Justice Madan B Lokur and former
Chief Justice of Calcutta High Court Justice Jyotirmay Bhattacharya are the
members of the Commission of Inquiry announced by the West Bengal government
last month.
An international media consortium has reported that over 300
verified Indian mobile phone numbers were on the list of potential targets for
surveillance using Pegasus spyware.
______________