Supreme Court to Hear Pegasus Spyware Case on April 29 Amid Delays and Privacy Concerns

The Supreme Court will hear pleas on April 29 regarding the alleged misuse of Pegasus spyware for unauthorized surveillance. Petitioners highlighted delays and missing reports from a court-appointed probe. Despite earlier findings of malware, no conclusive Pegasus link was established, raising continued concerns over privacy and government accountability.

The Supreme Court of India has scheduled April 29 for a hearing on multiple petitions seeking an investigation into the alleged unauthorised use of Pegasus spyware for surveillance. The case, originally set for hearing on April 22, was deferred due to time constraints, with the bench comprising Justices Surya Kant and N Kotiswar Singh noting the urgency of the matter.

Senior advocate Shyam Divan, representing some petitioners, urged the court to intervene, stating that the technical committee reports mandated earlier had not been shared with the petitioners. The court acknowledged the concern but postponed proceedings, stating it would list the case for hearing next week.

The Pegasus controversy stems from revelations that the Israeli spyware may have been used to target Indian journalists, politicians, and activists. In response, the Supreme Court in 2021 ordered an independent probe, forming a technical panel to investigate whether the spyware had indeed been deployed against Indian citizens. The panel’s findings included malware presence in five out of 29 devices examined but did not conclusively link the software to Pegasus.

Former apex court judge R V Raveendran oversaw the investigation, assisted by cybersecurity professionals and a former IPS officer. The committee also suggested legal reforms to enhance privacy protections and national cyber security in its three-part report.

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However, a lack of cooperation from the central government was noted in the investigation process. With over 300 Indian phone numbers reported as potential targets by an international media consortium, the case remains a flashpoint in the debate over digital surveillance and privacy rights in India.