Indo-US nuke deal faces legal hurdle

The suit, lodged on Friday in the Supreme Court, says there is an "immediate need to examine" the national security and sovereignty implications of the deal, the Press Trust of India reported.

The petition, known as a "public interest litigation" or a suit filed for the protection of the public interest, was lodged by MN Ramamurthy, a metallurgist and a member of the Mumbai-based Forum for Integrated National Security.

The pact, which would give India access to US civilian nuclear energy technology without requiring the Asian country to halt its atomic arms programme, is the centrepiece of the energy-hungry country's new relationship with Washington after decades of Cold War tensions.

The petition demands the public release of the full texts of the proposed agreement and that the government refrain "from hurriedly executing any agreement" with United States until it can be examined by a committee appointed by the Supreme Court.