Junk Rafale review plea, else it will affect 'operational preparedness' of IAF: Govt to Supreme Court

The Centre has submitted a written affidavit in the Supreme Court saying that the Rafale review petition should be dismissed. According to latest media reports, the government told the top court that “interference at this stage will also affect operational preparedness of the Indian Air Force.”

“It is submitted that the IGA for 36 Rafale procurement is between the two sovereign nations and the implementation of the project which is on schedule is being closely monitored by the governments. The adequate safeguards are built into IGA for ensuring smooth implementation of the project. The training of Indian Air Force personnel is underway in France. Any attempt to bring this procurement under cloud may result into delay in implementation of the project and would affect the operational preparedness of Indian Air Force,” the affidavit read.  

The petitioners – former Union ministers Yashwant Sinha and Arun Shourie and activist lawyer Prashant Bhushan – have claimed in the top court that the Centre misled and played fraud upon the apex court to obtain favourable order in the fighter jet case last December. In a rejoinder affidavit filed in the apex court, they said the December 14 verdict in the Rafale case should be reviewed as the judgement was obtained through "multiple falsehoods and suppression of material and relevant information".