The Centre on Friday informed the Supreme Court that there was no proposal to appoint a commission to probe the ‘snoopgate’ controversy.
Solicitor-General Mohan Parasaran told a Bench of Justices Ranjana Desai and N.V. Ramana that as per Union Law Minister Kapil Sibal’s statement, there was no proposal to appoint any inquiry commission.
Acting on a writ petition filed by a woman, who was tailed by the Gujarat police allegedly on the orders of the State authorities, and her father on May 6, the Bench had issued a notice to the Centre seeking its views.
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After Mr. Parasaran explained the Centre’s stand, Justice Desai told senior counsel Ranjit Kumar, appearing for the petitioners, that nothing survived in the petition.
When Mr. Kumar said he was seeking a stay on the proceedings of the State government-appointed probe panel, the Bench, while dismissing the petition, asked the petitioners to approach the Gujarat High Court.
Additional Advocate-General of Gujarat Tushar Mehta sought time to take instructions on stay of the proceedings pending before the Gujarat panel.
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‘Sinister and defamatory’ campaign>The petitioners said a “sinister and defamatory” campaign had been started in the electronic and print media by certain vested groups on the basis of unverified information published by two portals, CobraPost and Gulail.com, ostensibly on the ground of protecting their right to privacy.
“Such a campaign had tarnished the reputation of the petitioners and their family members, causing immense anguish and suffering,” the petition said.
The petitioners were thankful to the Gujarat government for taking adequate steps upon a personal request made by the father (first petitioner).
They sought a direction to restrain the Union Government from proceeding with the appointment of an inquiry commission and to stay the probe by the Gujarat panel.