SC Rejects PIL Seeking Direction To Halt Export Of Arms, Military Equipments To Israel

The Supreme Court dismissed a Public Interest Litigation on Monday that sought to halt the export of arms and military equipment to Israel amid its ongoing conflict with Gaza. The court ruled that it cannot interfere in matters of foreign policy.

Chief Justice D.Y. Chandrachud, along with Justices J.B. Pardiwala and Manoj Misra, stated that while Indian firms involved in such exports could be sued for breaching contractual obligations, the court cannot restrict their activities.

The bench stated, “We can’t enter into the nation’s foreign policy domain.”

Chief Justice Chandrachud questioned whether the court could impose a ban on exports under the UN’s genocide convention, noting the potential impact on foreign policy. “This is because it impacts the foreign policy and we do not know what the impact will be,” he added.

The PIL was filed by Ashok Kumar Sharma and others through lawyer Prashant Bhushan, who requested that the Centre cancel existing licenses and not grant new ones to Indian firms exporting arms to Israel. The conflict has resulted in significant casualties among Palestinians.

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