CIC asks PMO to make public list of 29 files on Netaji
Rejecting the PMO's refusal to provide a list of classified files relating to Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose, the Central Information Commission (CIC) has asked it to make public a list of 29 such files.
The Commission's decision came after the PMO produced before it 33 classified files on the revolutionary leader. It, however, exempted four related files as they had reference to foreign states.
Acting on an RTI application of 'Mission Netaji', a Delhi-based research trust challenging PMO's refusal to make public its classified files on Netaji, the CIC had, in its order of January 25, asked the latter to produce in a sealed cover a list of classified files for its perusal.
The Prime Minister's Office while declining to produce the list of the classified files had earlier said that divulging their contents could affect India's sovereignty and relations with foreign nations.
Perusing through the files as produced by the PMO, Chief Information Commissioner Wajahat Habibullah said while four of the 33 classified files had a reference to foreign nations, rest of the 29 files should be given.
In its order passed yesterday, the CIC also noted that out of the 29 files, seven were classified "top secret," three "confidential" while the rest were marked "secret." Apart from the 33 files, the PMO also informed the Commission about two recently de-classified files.
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