The Supreme Court on Friday rejected a petition related to India’s defence production policy, emphasizing that such matters fall strictly within the purview of the central government. The bench, led by Chief Justice of India D Y Chandrachud and comprising Justices J B Pardiwala and Manoj Misra, addressed the petitioner who appeared in person.
During the proceedings, the petitioner argued that the issues raised were critical to national security. However, the bench was firm in its stance, noting, “It is for the government to handle national security. This is a matter of policy.” The justices stressed that policy decisions, especially those concerning defence and national security, are not within the scope of judicial review but are decisions for the government to make.
The petitioner also mentioned that the issue had been previously taken up with the Prime Minister’s Office, suggesting an ongoing concern about the matter at high levels of government.
Despite the petitioner’s concerns, the Supreme Court decided that the appropriate course of action was not through the judiciary. The bench concluded by advising the petitioner that he might pursue his grievances directly with the government, reflecting the court’s limitation in influencing or intervening in executive decisions on policy matters related to defence.
