[Assam] India seeks Russian nod to disclose Netaji correspondence

[Pradip Kumar Datta]

India seeks Russian nod to disclose Netaji correspondence   
    


   
  MEA's latest move follows the CIC order of 23 March 2007. Click to read.

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Three months after Central Information Commission issued a stern order on classified correspondence between India and USSR/Russia on Netaji's disappearance, the Government has lobbed the ball to the Russians. In a letter to Mission Netaji's Anuj Dhar, who made a request under the Right to Information (RTI), the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has stated that "the concurrence of the Russian Federation regarding the disclosure of information is still awaited".

In August 2006, Dhar sought "certified copies of the complete correspondence the MEA has had with the Governments of the USSR and the Russian Federation over the disappearance of Netaji". Admitting that the matter had been taken up with the Russians "through the diplomatic channels at appropriate level", the Ministry declined to divulge the correspondence citing Clause 8(1) (a) & (f) of the RTI Act.

The clause cited by the Ministry has it that the Government may not disclose "information received in confidence from foreign Government" and the "information, disclosure of which would prejudicially affect the sovereignty and integrity of India, the security, strategic ... interests of the State, relation with foreign State".

Similar position was maintained by then Appellate Authority in the Ministry after Dhar wrote to him in September seeking a review of the decision. Thereafter, the matter was taken to the Central Information Commission (CIC). On 23 March 2007, the Bench of Information Commissioner Dr OP Kejariwal heard the views of Dhar and Ministry officials Ajai Choudhary, Additional Secretary (PP), and AK Nag, Joint Secretary & CPIO.

Ticking off the Ministry for summarily dismissing Dhar's request, the Commission ordered them to "have this correspondence examined", "take a firm decision" and send a reply to Dhar "latest by 30 June 2007". Making things complex for the MEA, the Commission added that in case they felt that the relations between India and Russia were going to be affected, "the Commission would like the issue to be settled only after a reference has been made to the Government of Russia."

Ministry's response dated 28 June 2007, but received by Dhar on 11 July 2007 evening, clearly indicates that India fears rapture in ties and has therefore taken up the issue with the Russians. Dhar says that he is "willing to wait but not indefinitely". On 17 August, he communicated to the CIC that "this belated, cursory reply in a matter of national importance is hardly satisfactory or appropriate".

"In the spirit of the RTI, the Ministry is obliged to provide adequate details and information about how the matter has been handled since March 2007, the level at which this has been taken up with the Russian Federation and the time-frame within which they expect an answer."

Dhar has requested the Commission to "issue appropriate directives to the CPIO with a view to expediting the matter".

  For details visit: http://justiceforsubhas.blogspot.com/

       
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