The Supreme Court on Tuesday has allowed the open hearing of Rafale Review petitions. The Top Court Bench led by CJI Ranjan Gogoi, Justice SK Kaul and KM Joseph decided today in the chambers to hear the review petitions in open court.
Along with the review petitions, the Court will also hear the correction petition filed by the Central Government, and also the petition filed for initiating perjury proceedings against officials who allegedly misled the Court by submitting false information in the notes submitted to the Court.
The Apex Court will now re-considers its judgment.
Supreme Court allows open court hearing on Rafale review petitions. pic.twitter.com/JUPIIPYSZl
— ANI (@ANI) February 26, 2019
The Supreme Court on December 14 rejected the Petition filed seeking a court-monitored CBI-led investigation into the Rafale deal involving ₹59,000 crores for the purchase of 36 Rafale fighter jets. A Supreme Court bench led by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi ruled, “We are satisfied that there is no reason to doubt the process is followed and the need of aircraft is not in doubt.”
The first petition in the case was filed by Advocate ML Sharma in the Apex Court. Later another lawyer, Vineet Dhanda, moved the top court with the plea for court-monitored probe into the deal. AAP leader Sanjay Singh also filed a petition. Later, Former Union Ministers Arun Shourie and Yashwant Sinha along with Prashant Bhushan also filed a petition in the Top Court.
However, the Top Court rejected pleas saying no reason to doubt.
READ: Top Court expresses unhappiness over defective Review Pleas in Rafale Case; says ‘such’ pleas causing a delay
Later, after the Top Court Verdict on December 14, Several petitions seeking review of the verdict, including one by Former Union Ministers Yashwant Sinha, Arun Shourie along with Prashant Bhushan. The petition filed by the trio stated that the recent judgment contains several factual errors and also the judgement relies upon patently incorrect claims made by the Government in an unsigned note given in a sealed cover to the court, which is a violation of a principle of natural justice.
PAC Chairman and Congress Leader Mallikarjun Kharge also hit back at the Government for lying in the Supreme Court, He said as quoted by ANI on December 15, “Govt lied in SC that the CAG report was presented in the house and in PAC and PAC has probed it. Govt said in SC it is in the public domain. Where is it? Have you seen it? I am going to take this up with other members of PAC. We will summon AG (Attorney General) and CAG.
READ: Sanjay Singh moves to Top Court seeking review of Rafale Verdict, second review plea in the issue
Later, AAP Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh also filed a review petition in the Top Court on January 14. AAP Leader Leader in his Petition demanded the identification of the individual who misled the top Court.
The Rafale Controversy in the last few months is on the boil with Opposition Parties trading barbs over the Issue. The Congress and other opposition parties have been alleging irregularities in the high-profile deal and asking a JPC on the issue.
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