The Centre has decided to junk the Snoopgate Commission that was to probe the role of Gujarat Government, Chief Minister Narendra Modi in particular, for using the State machinery to snoop on a woman architect.
After the woman in question moved a petition in the Supreme Court seeking protection of her privacy and stay against constitution of any such commission, Solicitor General Mohan Parasaran informed the apex court on Friday that the proposal had been dropped.
The Bench of Justices Ranjana P Desai and NV Ramana said in its order, “The Solicitor General makes statement that there is no proposal to appoint a Commission as per the statement of Union of India. In view of this statement, the prayer in the petition does not survive.”
The Commission got the Cabinet’s nod to enquire into disclosures made by two web portals — Gulalil.com and Cobra Post showing former Gujarat Minister Amit Shah giving instructions to top police officials to check on the movements of the architect. The Centre had recently announced that they will appoint a judge but were unable to find one.
The petition by the woman architect and her father even challenged the November 26, 2013 notification issued by Gujarat Government appointing a Commission of Enquiry headed by a retired High Court lady judge to examine the “snooping” scandal.
Following the statement of the Solicitor General, the court sought a similar statement from the State counsel as well. “We are not concerned with your Commission, but what she has said in the petition.” The reference was possibly to the statement by the lady that since the incident of snooping, she got married and wished to protect her privacy and that of her family.
Interestingly, the petitioner had no grievance as such against the State. On the contrary, petition said, “The petitioners have remained thankful for the timely, appropriate and adequate safety measures taken by the state government considering the circumstances prevailing then.”
Senior advocate Ranjit Kumar appearing for the petitioners agreed to withdraw the petition on the suggestion of the bench. The court, while allowing the petition to be withdrawn, gave liberty to challenge the State Commission before the Gujarat High Court.
The petitioner had earlier approached the National Commission of Women and the Gujarat Women Commission with her complaint and did not wish the matter to be made a subject of inquiry at the national or state level.
Former Gujarat IAS officer Pradeep Sharma sought to intervene in the matter but the bench refused in the face of severe opposition from the petitioner. Sharma has filed a separate petition pending with the SC where he has produced documents in sealed cover accusing Modi of snooping on him and the woman architect. The Bench decided to hear that case after vacations.