Govt can sign nuclear deal on its own: SC

New Delhi, Jan 27: In a major setback to the opponents of Indo-US nuclear deal, the Supreme Court has held that the government is not bound to place the nuclear deal before Parliament and can sign the deal on its own.

A bench comprising Chief Justice K G Balakrishnan and Justice R V Raveendran told the petitioner M Rravi Prakash " there is no provision in the Constitution of India which makes it mandatory for the Union Government to take into confidence before signing any international agreement or treaty and asked the petitioner to show the provision under which the goverment is bound to take Parliament into confidence before signing a deal." The Supreme Court had earlier on January 25 dismissed a similar petition holding that this court cannot interfere in the policy matters and the government is competent enough to look after the interest of the nation.

The order was a major shot in the arm for the Manmohan Singh Government. The Left and the opposition parties including the BJP has been demanding that the nuclear deal should be debated in Parliament before signing the agreement.

UNI