The government is toying with the idea of appointing an inquiry commission to probe charges that the Gujarat government snooped on a young woman, allegedly on orders of the former Gujarat home minister.
Sources said the home and law ministries had been told to look at the possibility of ordering the probe at the instance of Congress leaders but a decision would be taken only after weighing the available legal options.
“This was a possibility that was raised and discussed,” a government source said, suggesting that the UPA could take a firm call on the Congress’ suggestion for an inquiry commission within the next week or so.
Home minister Sushilkumar Shinde had last week claimed that the home ministry was still examining demands for a probe into the stalking of the young woman forwarded by Rashtrapati Bhavan.
Sources said the home ministry would, however, have to take the fact that a petition on similar lines was pending in the Supreme Court as well as the Gujarat government’s pre-emptive move earlier to order an inquiry under the commission of inquiry law.