PMO fails to give information under RTI
By IANSWednesday, September 8, 2010
NEW DELHI - The Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) has failed to provide information on correspondence with the President’s secretariat, related to former president A.P.J. Abdul Kalam’s objections to the list of 2004 Padma awardees.
The case relates to a Right to Information application filed by Subhash Chandra Agrawal, in February this year, asking for information on the file for 2004 Padma awards, as well as correspondence and action taken on recommendations.
The Central Information Commission had ruled that while certain information with the Prime Minister’s Office was privileged, information related to an alleged letter sent to PMO by then president Kalam’s secretariat, dated Jan 22, 2004, should be given to the applicant.
As per that letter, Kalam had raised objections to some awardees in the list made by the PMO.
The Prime Minister’s office was directed to provide the information within ten working days of the CIC’s decision in April.
But, the PMO has objected, and has now asked for additional time twice. In a letter in July, the PMO’s central public information officer had said that it was considering the “constitutional issues” and exploring “various legal options”. It had asked for an additional period of four weeks.
In the latest mail dated Sep 3, the PMO has asked for the deadline to be extended till the end of the month.
“In view of the constitutional issues involved and reference received from the President’s Secretariat on 31 August, which is under detailed consideration in the office, it is requested that some additional time upto at least 30 September, 2010 may kindly be granted,” said the PMO.
