An Mumbai-based activist scientist has filed a public interest petition in the Supreme Court seeking to stop the final signing of the Civil Nuclear Cooperation Agreement between India and the United States as it has serious implications on national security, sovereignty and dignity of the country.
In his petition M N Ramamurthy, an IIT metallurgist and a member of the Mumbai-based Forum for Integrated National Security raised several questions about the Hyde Act, 2006 passed by the US Congress which enables America to enter into bilateral agreement with India for transfer of nuclear material and technology.
Claiming that the provisions of the Act were detrimental to country's interest, Ramamurthy has requested the court to restrain the Central Government from hurriedly executing any agreement with U S till it was thoroughly examined by an apex court-appointed Committee.
Contending that the US assurance on supply of Uranium fuel was deceptive and illusory, he said the agreement would bring India's nuclear installation perpetually under the US scanner.
Referring to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s statement in Parliament on the Indo-US nuclear deal, he contended that the consequence of such "acts and omissions" by the executive were "far too serious and grave" for the country and the matter could not be left to the wisdom of executive alone.
Ramamurthy said there was an immediate need to examine its implications on national security and sovereignty and urged the court to direct the Centre to release draft-by-draft full texts of the proposed Indo-US for public information and scrutiny, pending final disposal of the PIL.
{{/usCountry}}Ramamurthy said there was an immediate need to examine its implications on national security and sovereignty and urged the court to direct the Centre to release draft-by-draft full texts of the proposed Indo-US for public information and scrutiny, pending final disposal of the PIL.
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