New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Tuesday stayed the Bombay High Court order directing the Maharashtra government to place before it the report of Pradhan Committee which probed government's response to 26/11 terror attacks. The apex court disapproved the directions passed by the HC.
The apex court expressed its displeasure that the High Court was acting as an expert on the sensitive issue by seeking explanation from the top officers about the impending threat and logistics for countering terrorism.
"What is the use of disclosing it to public. What is the advantage. Can the court prevent it. What they will score by knowing the secret information. It will only serve for television discussions," a Bench comprising Chief Justice K G Balakrishnan and Justices P Sathasivam and B S Chauhan said while commenting on the order asking the state government to submit the report in a sealed cover to it.
The Bench stayed the High Court order directing the Chief Secretary Johnny Joseph to file an affidavit as to why sufficient equipment and bulletproof jackets were not provided to the ATS till date.
The High Court had also asked the Chief Secretary to explain about the steps taken after the June 17 meeting of the the state security council, formed after the attacks, which had discussed how digital technologies can be roped in for tackling terror.
The Bench was irked by the order asking the Chief of Anti-Terrorism Squad K P Raghuvanshi to remain present in the court during the next hearing on August 6.