The Supreme Court on Monday dismissed a PIL filed by a group of 11 academics, former bureaucrats and musicians seeking a direction to the Centre to stop the supply of arms and equipment by companies, including the Adani group, to Israel in the wake of its genocide of Palestinians in Gaza.

The apex court said the issue related to the foreign policy of the country and added that Israel was a sovereign nation and the court had no jurisdiction to pass
any such directions to the government.

“We can’t enter into the nation’s foreign policy domain. How do we pass such directions?” a bench headed by Chief Justice of India D.Y. Chandrachud told advocates Prashant Bhushan and Cherryl Dsouza appearing for the petitioners.

“Can we direct that under the United Nations genocide convention you ban the export to Israel? Why this restraint? It will impact the foreign policy and we do not know what the impact will be,” the bench, which included Justices J.B. Pardiwala and Manoj Misra, said.

The bench said issues relating to foreign policy fell under the Centre’s domain.

“Where do we get the jurisdiction to interfere in such matters?” the CJI asked.