Supreme Court Issues Notice in Tata's Right to Privacy Plea

Source : Indlaw

The Supreme Court also issued notices to Union Home Ministry, CBI, Income Tax Department and news magazines ’Open’ and ’Outlook’ on a petition filed by industrialist Ratan Tata seeking an inquiry into "selective leakage" of Nira Radia conversation tapes. 

A bench comprising Justices G S Singhvi and A K Ganguly directed the respondents, including Union Finance Ministry to respond to the allegations within 10 days by way of counter-affidavit. 

Senior Counsel Harish Salve (Pictured) appearing for Mr Tata submitted before the Court that leakage of conversation tapes to the media amounted to violation of his Right to Privacy. 

Mr Salve also pleaded that he has no problem if the case was handed over to the investigating agency but leakage of the conversation to the media amounts to an attack on the Right to Privacy of a citizen. 

The apex court asked Mr Salve why the two magazines, which had published the excerpts of the conversation, have not been made a party. 

Mr Salve readily agreed to implead them. 

The Government today submitted original tapes containing the conversation between corporate lobbyist Nira Radia and politicians, industrialists, journalists and bureaucrats, to the Supreme Court in a sealed cover. 

The government has already ordered an inquiry into the leakage of tapes.