The Hans India: New Delhi: Tuesday,
April 19, 2016.
The Home
Ministry has refused to disclose make, model numbers and registration numbers
of cars used by the President which display state emblem in place of license
plates, saying it concerns national security and revealing such details might
pose a threat to the first citizen.
The
information denied by the Ministry seems to be available on social media platforms
from unconfirmed sources.
One post on
'YouTube' claims the President uses "black Mercedes Benz S600 (W221)
Pullman Guard. It is a custom-built, heavily armoured limousine which meets the
requirements of the highest protection class VR6/VR7."
"The armour
is designed to protect against military rifle shots and also offers resistance
against fragments from hand grenades and explosives. The president's motorcade
also consists of the former presidential car, a black Mercedes-Benz W140
armoured limousine, which is now being used as a spare vehicle," it
claims.
The
information is also available on various news platforms.
One curious
RTI applicant Rakesh Agarwal approached President's Secretariat seeking to know
the make, model numbers and registration numbers of all cars and vehicles which
display the state emblem but not registration numbers.
He sought
details about cars of Rashtrapati Bhawan, Vice President, Raj Bhawan and Raj
Niwas of all states and union territories, maintained by the Protocol Division
of the Ministry of External Affairs and also rules governing the use of emblem.
The
application was transferred to Home Ministry which said information sought is
exempted from disclosure under section 8(1)(a) and (g) of the RTI Act, 2005 as
doing so would endanger the security of the State and life and physical safety
of the President.
Section
8(1)(a) of the RTI Act allows disclosure of information, which would
prejudicially affect the sovereignty and integrity of India, the security,
strategic, scientific or economic interests of the State, relation with foreign
State or lead to incitement of an offence.
Section
8(1)(g) of the Act allows withholding the information the disclosure of which
would endanger the life or physical safety of any person or identify the source
of information or assistance given in confidence for law enforcement or
security purposes.
Agreeing with
the contention of the Ministry, Chief Information Commissioner Radha Krishna
Mathur dismissed the petition.
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