CIC allows inspection of Indo-Pak Sharm el-Sheikh files

The Central Information Commission has allowed the inspection of files pertaining to Sharm el-Sheikh joint statement of India and Pakistan last year, responding to a RTI application. HT Correspondent reports.

The Central Information Commission has allowed the inspection of files pertaining to Sharm el-Sheikh joint statement of India and Pakistan last year, responding to a RTI application.

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The RTI applicant had sought to know the names of officials involved in the drafting of the document, which had kicked up a political row here as it contained a reference to Balochistan, where Pakistan has been alleging Indian hand in terror incidents, and delinking of talks from action against terrorism by Pakistan.

Information Commissioner Annapurna Dixit came down heavily on the external affairs ministry for not complying with its directive to produce the file for perusal on December 8, 2009, and not providing the information within mandated 30-day period before issuing show-cause notice.

RTI activist S.C. Agrawal had sought a copy of the statement by India and Pakistan issued at the Non Aligned Movement Summit at Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, last year, besides names of the officials and persons involved in framing it along with file-notes on its drafting.

The ministry provided the copy of the declaration and the list of officials in the delegation but did not give any names of the officials who had drafted the proposal and said there were no file-notes in its records.

The commission directed the ministry to produce the file to “verify the veracity” of reply but that was not provided even after specific directions and repeated telephone reminders from it.