Amitha Muraleedharan
A writ petition has been filed in Delhi High Court by the CPIO, Directorate of Personnel Services, Air Headquarters Indian Air Force against the order of CIC (Central Information Commission).
The CIC had ordered the CPIO to provide details of relevant Special Flight Returns-II to an applicant under the RTI Act within 15 days.
The petitioner argued that the disclosure of information about the Prime Minister’s entourage under the RTI Act (Right to Information Act, 2005) would affect the sovereignty and integrity of India.
The information sought was under Section 8(1)(a), 8(1)(e) & 8(1)(g) of the RTI Act, and it was very extremely sensitive, stated the petitioner.
The information includes the entire details about the names of Special Protection Group (SPG) personnel accompanying the Hon’ble Prime Minister of India on foreign tours.
The petitioner stated that the CIC made a grave error by ignoring the fact that the PM’s entourage details also comprise information about the SPG, which is exempted from the RTI Act.
The CPIO has submitted that information about Special Flight Returns-II cannot be disclosed publicly because it was related to official records of functioning and working of the security of the Prime Minister of India.
The petition also stated that such information is exempted from revelation under Section 8(1)(g) of the RTI Act.