The Supreme Court on Thursday agreed to hear a former television journalist who lost her job following the leak of confidential e-mails of the Essar Group allegedly showing political-bureaucratic-corporate nexus to change public policy.
A Bench of Justices T.S. Thakur and Kurian Joseph did not agree with advocate Prashant Bhushan’s objections to make her party in a PIL plea filed by his client, NGO Common Cause, seeking an independent investigation into the Essar leaks case.
“People, who are likely to be affected, ought to be given a hearing. We cannot deny it. She is saying that she has already lost the job and wants to clear her name. Can we deny the hearing,” Justice Thakur placated Mr. Bhushan, who eventually agreed.
The court further asked the Centre to file its reply on the PIL and scheduled the case for hearing on March 11.
In its affidavit, the Essar Group denied any wrongdoing in accepting job requests from people in public office. It sought rejection of the PIL.
The petitioner claimed that internal emails of the Essar group of companies during 2009 and 2013 showed favours being granted to Nitin Gadkari, former Ministers Sriprakash Jaiswal, Beni Prasad Verma, some journalists through high-end gifts, luxury travels or jobs to their recommended candidates. A few journalists had to resign after it was revealed that they used private cabs on behalf of the company for personal use.
