Rafale deal: SC seeks details of decision making

The Supreme Court on Wednesday directed the Union government to provide the details, including steps involved in the decision-making process, for buying Rafale fighter jets from France.

A bench of Chief Justice of India Justice Ranjan Gogoi and Justices Sanjay Kishan Kaul and K M Joseph sought information about the controversial deal by October 29.

The top court, however, clarified that it does want details of price and suitability of equipment.

The apex court said the details have to be submitted in a sealed cover in view of "sensitive nature of the matter".

The court's order came on a couple of PILs filed by advocate M L Sharma and Vineet Dhanda.

But the court said that it did not rely upon any of the averments made by the petitioners as those were "grossly inadequate".

The bench said that it wants details of the decision-making process only for its "satisfaction".

Attorney General K K Venugopal urged the court not to entertain the petitions as those were filed with a political objective just before the elections.

"There is a bitter fight between the Opposition and the ruling party. The issue is not judicially reviewable," Venugopal said.

The top law officer also contended that the matter involved the issue of national security.

On this, the bench asked, "Suppose, we ask you to provide details of the decision-making process in a sealed cover, how would you react?"

"I, myself, may not be given details as it involved national security," he said.

Congress had accused the Narendra Modi government of huge corruption in helping Anil Ambani's company to be offset partner of the deal with Dassault for buying 36 fighter jets.