Details of infiltrations from Indo-Pak border and LoC cannot be provided under RTI
21 Jan, 2013The Central Information Commission has ruled that copy of documents pertaining to infiltrations from the Indo-Pakistan border and the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir cannot be disclosed under RTI. An application under the RTI Act was filed with the army wherein the appellant sought for the details of infiltrations or attempts of infiltration from the Indo-Pakistan border and the LoC in Jammu and Kashmir. The appellant also wanted the details of ceasefire violations and casualty of security force personnel. The PIO, Army had denied the information claiming exemption under section 8 of the RTI Act. Initially during the hearing the CIC held that some part of the requested information is available for public in terms of news items appearing in the media from time to time and therefore it cannot be said that its disclosure would be prejudicial to the security of India. Later the Commission perused the records pertaining to past two years regarding infiltration in Jammu and Kashmir, ceasefire violations along the LoC and casualties/ injuries suffered by armed forces personnel etc. The CIC accepted the contentions of the PIO that the information is sensitive in nature and cannot be disclosed as it may adversely affect India's relations with the foreign countries, besides having adverse effect on the strategic and security interests of India. The Commission, however held that if the appellant is keen to peruse the information, he should make a request to the PIO who would permit the appellant to peruse the information but would not provide a copy.