Don't ask government to release information that threatens security: Supreme Court

- Supreme Court clarifies on Pegasus espionage controversy issue

- There is a lot of software used to keep an eye on terrorists, the details of which cannot be disclosed: Center

- Notice to the Center of the Supreme Court on the allegations of the Opposition and the demand for investigation, order to reply within 10 days

New Delhi: A number of petitions seeking an independent inquiry into the Pegasus espionage controversy have been filed in the Supreme Court. During the hearing, the apex court had sent a notice to the central government. There are allegations that the central government used Pegasus spyware to spy on opposition leaders. On the issue of these allegations, the Supreme Court has sent a notice seeking a reply from the Center within 10 days.

At the same time, the apex court said that the formation of a committee to investigate the Pegasus espionage controversy would be decided after the government responds. "We do not want the government to release any information that threatens the security of the country," a bench of Supreme Court Chief Justice NV Ramanna, Justice Suryakant and Aniruddha Bose said.

While the arguments were going on, the government told the apex court that there was a lot of software being used by the government in view of terrorist activities and the security of the country, the disclosure of which could endanger the security of the country. No government discloses information about such secret software. The government also said that it was ready to provide all the information to a technical committee if required, which could submit its report to the Supreme Court. The apex court has sought a reply from the Center on the allegations being made by the petitioners and the matter will be heard in 10 days.