Is this possible, asks SC on PIL alleging Cong’s pact with China

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Friday expressed surprise over a PIL claiming that an agreement was signed between the Congress party and the Chinese government and asked, “Is it possible for a political party to sign a pact with a foreign government?”
A bench headed by Chief Justice S A Bobde said, “We find something unheard of and absurd in the PIL. A political party has signed an agreement with China? Is it possible? We have never heard of this.”
Appearing for PIL petitioner, senior advocate Mahesh Jethmalani said the petitioner wanted to amend the relief sought. The petitioner, Sashank Shekhar Jha, had sought “transparency and clarity regarding the 2008 agreement signed between Indian National Congress and the Communist Party of China (CPC), which is also the de-facto government of People’s Republic of China”.
The bench said, “If we find that incorrect statements are made in the petition, we will order your prosecution. With our limited experience, we have never heard of a political party signing an agreement with a foreign country.” However, it asked the petitioner to withdraw the petition and approach the appropriate high court.
The PIL pertained to a purported agreement allegedly signed during UPA’s term on August 7, 2008, between the Congress and the CPC in Beijing for exchanging high-level information and cooperation between them. The memorandum of understanding also provided for “opportunity to consult each other on important bilateral, regional and international developments”, it claimed.