New Delhi: In an embarrassment to the Centre, the Supreme Court today refused to hear its stand on Niira Radia’s phone tapping after it failed to place original records of authorisation of surveillance.
“It is most unfortunate that Government of India’s counsel is not in a position to assist the court,” a bench headed by Justice G S Singhvi said in its order.
It directed the Centre to bring the complete original records regarding tapping of Radia’s conversations on August 27. The bench also directed that records of the home ministry as well as the minutes of the review committee which dealt with the surveillance in 2008-09 be placed before it.
“First you produce the records. We are not hearing you now,” the bench said when Additional Solicitor General P P Malhotra pleaded that his stand be heard.
It also slammed the Centre for placing samples of government orders in which there were discrepancies and remarked, “May God help us”.
The conversations were recorded as part of surveillance of Radia’s phone on a complaint to the Finance Minister on November 16, 2007 alleging that within a span of nine years she had built up a business empire worth Rs 300 crore.
