Modify order on SIT to probe black money: Centre urges SC

The central government Wednesday moved the Supreme Court seeking modification of its earlier orders on setting up a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to investigate the flight of black money to tax havens abroad and bringing it back.

The apex court is likely to hear Friday the centre's plea seeking modification of the court's direction to constitute the SIT.

The Centre Wednesday urged the court to give it another two weeks' time to issue the notification on setting up of the SIT.

The court by its May 1 order had given the government three weeks' time to issue a notification setting up the SIT to be presided by former apex court judges Justice M.B. Shah and Justice Arijit Pasayat as chairman and vice chairman to guide and direct the investigation.

The three weeks' time ends May 22.

As Solicitor General Mohan Parasaran sought extension of time, the apex court bench of Justice B.S. Chauhan and Justice A.K. Sikri asked how could they, sitting in the vacation bench, modify the order passed by another bench.

The May 1 order directing the Centre to issue a notification setting up the SIT was passed by the bench of Justice H.L. Dattu, Justice Ranjana Prakash Desai and Justice Madan B. Lokur.

Parasaran told the court that the notification for setting up of the SIT was ready but since the incumbent government was a caretaker government, it was felt that the new government should take a call.

However, in its application seeking modification/extension of time, the government said the matter of reconstituting the SIT was considered at the level of the prime minister but no decision could be taken in view of the fact that the government would be submitting its formal resignation May 17.

The government also told the court that its plea seeking the review of the July 4, 2011 order by which the SIT was set up and the subsequent order of March 26, 2014, was filed May 8, 2014, but the plea could not get listed in view of the ongoing summer vacation.