(PTI)
There is no occasion to doubt the decision-making process in the procurement of 36 Rafale jets from France, the Supreme Court said on Friday and dismissed all the petitions seeking an investigation into alleged irregularities in the Rs 58,000 crore deal. There was no substantial evidence of commercial favouritism to any private entity, the bench headed by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi said on the issue of an offset partner in its ruling on a batch of petitions.
While one lot sought a court-monitored investigation into the deal, another asked for a direction to the CBI to register an FIR for alleged irregularities. The bench, also comprising Justices S K Kaul and K M Joseph, said it is not the job of the court to deal with the comparative details of the pricing. There has been a necessity for fighter aircraft and the country cannot remain without jets, it said.
The CJI, who read out the judgement for the three-judge bench, said no reasons were found to interfere in the procurement process for the fighter jets. The apex court said it does not find substantial matter to interfere with the issue of procurement, pricing and offset partner. It noted the need for induction of 4th and 5th generation of fighter aircraft like Rafale in the Indian Air Force (IAF). Both sides involved in the deal have clarified all aspects in the procurement of Rafale jets deal, the bench said.
