What happened after what in Rafale deal case: Brief chronology
The Supreme Court today dismissed all the petitions seeking a probe in the decision-making process of controversial Rafale deal and gave the Modi government a clean chit on the procurement of 36 Rafale Fighter Jets. The apex court also focused on the necessity to induct fourth and fifth generation fighter aircraft. Given below is the year wise chronology of the event.
In May 2011, Air Force shortlisted Rafale and Eurofighter jets
30 December 2002: Defence Procurement Procedures adopted to streamline procurement procedures. 28 August 2007: Ministry of Defence issues Request for Proposal for procurement of 126 MMRCA (medium multi-role combat aircraft) fighters. 4 September 2008: Mukesh Ambani-led Reliance group incorporates Reliance Aerospace Technologies Ltd (RATL). May 2011: Air Force shortlists Rafale, Eurofighter jets. 30 January 2012: Dassault Aviation's Rafale-aircraft comes up with the lowest bid.
In August'14, Jaitley informed Parliament about expected deliveries of aircraft
13 March 2014: Work Share agreement signed between HAL-Dassault Aviation under which they were responsible for 70% and 30% of the work, respectively, for 108 aircraft. 8 August 2014: Then defense minister Arun Jaitley tells Parliament that 18 direct 'fly-away' aircraft expected to be delivered in 3-4 years from signing of the contract. Remaining 108 aircraft to be delivered in the next seven years.
In January'16, India and France signed MoU for Rafale aircraft
8 April 2015: Then foreign secretary says detailed discussions underway between Dassault, MoD, and HAL. 10 April: New deal for acquisition of 36 direct 'fly-away' aircraft from France announced. 26 January 2016: India, France sign MoU for 36 Rafale-aircraft. 23 September: Inter-governmental agreement signed. November 2018: Government states in Parliament that cost of each Rafale aircraft to be approximately Rs. 670 crore.
Part 4: In December'16, Dassault Aviation revealed price paid
18 November 2016: Government states in Parliament all aircraft will be delivered by April 2022. 31 December 2016: Dassault Aviation's Annual Report reveals the actual price paid for the 36 aircraft at about Rs 60,000 crore, more than double the government's stated price in Parliament.
On September 18, SC adjourned PIL seeking stay on Rafale-deal
13 March 2018: PIL in SC seeks an independent probe into Center's decision to procure 36 Rafale fighter jets from France and disclosure of the cost involved in the deal before Parliament. 5 September: SC agrees to hear PIL seeking stay on Rafale fighter jet deal. 18 September: SC adjourns hearing on PIL seeking a stay on Rafale fighter jet deal to October 10.
In October, SC asked Center to provide details of decision-making
8 October 2018: SC agrees to hear on October 10 fresh PIL seeking direction to Center to file in "sealed cover" the details of the agreement for buying 36 Rafale fighter Jets. 10 October: SC asks Center to provide details of decision-making process in the deal in a sealed cover. After that, Former Union Ministers move SC seeking registration of FIR into the deal.
Center provided details of 36 jets to SC last month
24 October 2018: Former Union Ministers Yashwant Sinha and Arun Shourie and activist-lawyer Prashant Bhushan move SC, seeking registration of FIR into Rafale fighter jet deal. 31 October: SC asks Center to place before it in a sealed cover within 10 days the pricing details of 36 Rafale fighter jets. 12 November: Center places price details in a sealed cover before SC.
On 14 December, SC announced its verdict of Rafale deal
12 November: Center also gives details of steps that led to the finalization of the Rafale deal. 14 November: SC reserves order on pleas seeking court-monitored probe in Rafale deal. 14 December: SC says there is no occasion to doubt the decision-making process of the Modi-government and dismisses all petitions seeking direction to CBI to register an FIR for alleged irregularities in the jet-deal.
