Rafale Supreme Court verdict: In a big setback for the Modi government a day ahead of the first phase of Lok Sabha election, the Supreme Court on Wednesday ruled that the defence ministry files objected to by the Centre are admissible evidence. The apex court said that Rafale review petitions will be heard on merit. Date for hearing review petition on merits will be decided later, it said.
“We dismiss the preliminary objection raised by Union of India questioning the maintainability of the review petition,” a bench comprising Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi and Justices S K Kaul and K M Joseph said.
The petitions were filed by the former BJP leader and Union minister Yashwant Sinha, journalist-turned-politician Arun Shourie and noted lawyer Prashant Bhushan.
A bench comprising CJI Gogoi, Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul and Justice Joseph had on March 14 reserved its order on the “preliminary issue and the claim of privilege by the government”.
The Centre had earlier claimed that the documents were stolen from the Ministry of Defence, but later changed its stance saying that the documents submitted by the petitioners were ‘unauthorisedly photocopied’. The government has sought removal of the documents from the case with Attorney General KK Venugopal, representing the government, arguing that the security of the nation supersedes everything else.
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I stand vindicated. I challenge Modiji for a debate over the corruption which happened in procurement of Rafale jets, Congress president Rahul Gandhi says reacting to Supreme Court's Rafale ruling
The layers of corruption in Rafale scam is out in open. The Supreme Court's ruling has proved that chowkidar chor hai, says Randeep Surjewala speaking at a press conference in New Delhi.
Modi and his government have compromised national security for corruption and cronyism in an important defence deal. They tried to evade accountability, denied a JPC, hid price from CAG, tried to first mislead, then stall any hearing in Supreme Court. Important that culprits are booked, CPM general secretary Sitaram Yechury tweeted after the Supreme Court's ruling that 'leaked' documents can be relied upon by petitioners seeking review of Rafale judgement.
Welcoming the Supreme Court's ruling in Rafale deal case, the Congress described it as 'victory of India'.
Modiji, you can run and lie as much as you want, But sooner or later the truth comes out. The skeletons in Rafale Scam are tumbling out one by one. And now there is ‘no official secrets act’ to hide behind. Supreme Court has upheld a time honoured legal principle; A rattled Modiji had threatened to invoke Official Secrets Act against independent journalists for exposing his corruption on Rafale. Don’t worry Modiji, an investigation is going to take place now, whether you like it or not, Congress spokesperson Randeep Surjewala tweeted.
PM Modi must apologise for misleading the country repeatedly. The Defence Minister should resign. Attempts by the Modi government to cover up huge corruption in Rafale deal has failed, says BSP chief and former Uttar Pradesh CM Mayawati. ????????? ??????? ?? ??? ??? ????? ????? ???? ??? ???? ???????/?????????? ?? ?????? ?? ???? ???? ???? ????? ?? ????? ????? ??????? ????? ??? ?????? ????? ???? ??? ????? ???? ?? ???? ? ???? ???-??? ??? ????? ??? ?? ?????? ???? ?? ??? ???? ???? ???? ????? ? ????? ?????? ??????? ???— Mayawati (@Mayawati) April 10, 2019
The Supreme Court has rejected the objection of the government to considering what they called 'stolen' documents on the Rafale Deal. The ruling has exposed the government's claims and lies given to the Supreme Court in sealed cover: Prashant Bhushan
Our argument was that because the documents relate to Defence you must examine them. You asked for these evidence and we have provided it. So Court, has accepted our pleas and rejected the arguments of the government, says Arun Shourie.
Supreme Court's Rafale verdict has proved that Modi has cheated the nation and armed forces. He misled the Supreme Court to cover up his crime, says Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal after Supreme Court's Rafale ruling.
Documents objected to by Centre are admissible, holds Supreme Court unanimously. Date for hearing review petition on merits will be decided later.
Justice KM Joseph writes separate concurring judgment.
Supreme Court dismisses preliminary objections by Central government on maintainability of review petition, review petition will have to be heard on merits.
Hours before Rafale verdict by the Supreme Court, the Congress on Tuesday described the jet deal as the 'biggest scam' that India has ever seen. Congress spokesperson Pawan Khera accused the Narendra Modi government of giving exemptions to two French companies in selecting offset partners.
Petitioner Prashant Bhushan has argued that there is no government-to-government contract in purchasing Rafale jets as there is no sovereign guarantee extended to India by France in the Rs 58,000 crore deal.
The BJP government, however, has claimed that the first Rafale jet will be delivered in September 2019. Also, the CAG report tabled in the Parliament noted that the NDA government's deal was cheaper and better in delivery schedule compared to that prosed during Congress-led UPA regime.
According to the Congress' claim, the first Rafale aircraft purchased by Modi government will not be delivered till September 2019 and all the 36 aircrafts would be delivered to India only by the year 2022, 8.5 years after the placement of order.
The Congress has claimed that in August 2015, the Modi government "mischievously" amended the Defence Procurement Procedure (DPP) 2013 (formulated by Congress-UPA), to give huge leeway to Dassault Aviation and its French associate MBDA.
The Centre has urged the Supreme Court to remove the documents from the case saying they were of sensitive nature and their going public could jeopardise national security.
Attorney General K K Venugopal had told the Supreme Court that the documents filed by petitioners were unauthorisedly photocopied and leaked and that they enjoyed protection under Official Secrets Act, 1923.
A bench of CJI Gogoi and Justices SK Kaul and KM Joseph had on March 14 reserved its verdict. The Centre had objected to admissibility of classified papers that were published by media.
The Congress party has promised that it will probe the controversial Rafale deal if it gains majority in after Lok Sabha election. "Congress will enforce anti-corruption laws without discrimination...," the party manifesto said.
Congress president Rahul Gandhi has clalled Rafale fighter jet deal the biggest defence corruption since Independence. He has also challenged Prime Minister Narendra Modi for an open debate on the issue.
The Supreme Court will pronounce its judgment on the Modi government's preliminary objections to the admissibility of certain documents sought to be relied on by the review petitioners.