TwoCircles.net: Kolkata: Sunday, July 20, 2014.
The Central
Information Commission (CIC) has upheld the Prime Minister's Office's
contention of keeping, as classified, three files on Netaji Subhash Chandra
Bose, on grounds their declassification would adversely affect foreign
relations.
Researcher
Chandrachur Ghose in April last year filed a Right to Information (RTI)
application seeking copies of documents contained in three PMO files relating
to the widow and daughter of the nationalist leader.
But the PMO
turned down the request contending the disclosure of the documents would
prejudicially affect relations with foreign countries and as such they were
exempt under the RTI Act.
When Ghose's
appeal was too turned by the PMO director, he took the matter before the CIC
which Thursday upheld the PMO's stand of refusing the declassification of the
files.
"It is
not for us to substitute our judgment on the applicability of exemptions to
that agency duly authorized to determine such issues.
"In view
of the above, and Central Public Information Officer's submission that due
diligence has been exercised, we uphold the decision of denying the
information," CIC Rajiv Mathur said in his decision.
Ghose was
represented by author and researcher Anuj Dhar at the hearing before Mathur.
Ghose and
Dhar are part of a group called "Mission Netaji", which since 2006
has filed several RTI applications concerning Netaji.