The Hindu : Front Page : Kargil deals: court to examine Centre's stand

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Apr 19, 2005

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Kargil deals: court to examine Centre's stand

Legal Correspondent

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court said on Monday that it would examine the inconsistency in the two affidavits filed by the Defence Ministry on the Kargil defence deals to a public interest petition seeking action on the basis of the report of the Comptroller and Auditor-General.

A Bench of the Chief Justice R.C. Lahoti and Justice G.P. Mathur told amicus curiae Rakesh Dwivedi that it was for the Government to initiate appropriate action. The amicus curiae drew the court's attention to the fact that the Defence Ministry had filed almost contradictory affidavits but maintained that serious offences had been committed. He wanted to know "if somebody has committed a serious offence, what prevented the Defence Ministry from initiating even departmental proceedings, leave apart the criminal case, which has been handed over to the CBI."

The Bench then observed, "it calls for a detailed enquiry to fix responsibility. Either the Government does it on its own or, if necessary, we will pass appropriate orders." The court posted the matter for further hearing after summer vacation.

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