"None Of You Deserves Hearing": SC expresses displeasure over leak in CBI case
New Delhi, Nov 20: The Supreme Court Tuesday expressed strong displeasure over the leak of CBI Director Alok Kumar Verma's confidential reply in the media."None of you deserves a hearing," said Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi, deferring the case to November 29.
The response was filed by Verma and submitted to the secretary general in a sealed cover on Monday.
A bench comprising Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi and Justices S K Kaul and K M Joseph handed over to senior advocate Fali S Nariman, appearing for Verma, the copy of a report by a news portal, which has published the CBI director's response.
Nariman after going through the media report told the bench that he was "shattered" and "shocked" on Verma's reply being leaked in the media.
The senior lawyer said the news portal and its journalists concerned be summoned as the press should be free and responsible.
The court was hearing Verma's plea against govt's decision to divest him of duties and sending him on leave.
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Lebanon appoints new representative for talks with Israel, rejects linkage to Iran
Beirut: Lebanon’s has moved to underline its independent position in ongoing regional developments, amid attempts to link the country to the broader conflict involving Iran, the United States and Israel.
President Joseph Aoun, while announcing the appointment of former US ambassador Simon Karam as Lebanon’s representative in talks with Israel, made it clear that Karam would be the sole representative for Lebanon and that there would be no substitute.
The move comes in response to what the Lebanese officials see as efforts by Iran to tie Lebanon’s situation to the wider regional conflict. Iran had indicated that there would be no ceasefire involving the US, Israel and Iran unless it also included a ceasefire in Lebanon.
Some groups, including Hezbollah and its supporters, had expressed support for linking the situations, citing concerns that the Lebanese government has limited leverage in negotiations with Israel. Lebanon is not formally a party to the conflict, and its army is considered weak.
However, others, including Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, have opposed this approach. They view Iran’s stance as an attempt to influence Lebanon’s internal affairs and see it as undermining the country’s sovereignty.
Officials backing the government’s position say the move is aimed at reaffirming Lebanon’s sovereignty and ensuring that decisions about peace and ceasefire within the country are not dictated externally.
They also see it as a safeguard, so that any breakdown in talks between the US, Israel and Iran does not automatically lead to renewed conflict in Lebanon.
