Produce all records on Radia tapes: SC to Centre

 The Supreme Court on Thursday termed the Centre’s inability to “effectively assist the court” as “unfortunate” in the Radia tape case and ordered for production of entire records and files relating to interception of her telephonic conversations with prominent people.

A bench of Justices G S Singhvi and V Gopala Gowda expressed their displeasure after Additional Solicitor General P P Malhotra produced a one-page document relating to the permission granted by the home secretary for intercepting a phone line.

The court asked Malhotra to produce all original records on the request made by the tax department to the Union home secretary for intercepting Radia’s phone lines.

It also sought orders passed by the home secretary and decisions of the review committee on permitting the prolonged interception. It adjourned the hearing to August 27.

The court refused to continue hearing the matter as ASG Malhotra contended that the records had earlier been produced before. At the outset, senior advocate L N Rao, appearing for Home Ministry sought for an adjournment on the ground that he was to receive instructions. The bench, however, said, “There is always a confusion when it comes to taking a decision. This matter has been heard by five different benches till date and we have seen almost equal number of law officers appearing on behalf of the government one after another.”