Accession files: Disclosure of Bucher papers in national interest, says CIC

RTI activist denied info

- RTI activist Venkatesh Nayak had sought the documents under the transparency law but it was denied to him without citing any exemption clauses in the RTI Act.

- These files were provided by India's second Army Chief General Sir Roy Bucher to Nehru Memorial Museum and Library about J&K related to the period of 1947-49.

New Delhi, October 10

The disclosure of files provided by India's second Army Chief General Sir Roy Bucher to Nehru Memorial Museum and Library about J&K related to the period of 1947-49, which may throw light on Accession, is in national interest, the Central Information Commission has observed in an order.

The Commission stopped short of ordering disclosure of these crucial documents, withheld from the public on the orders of the Ministry of External Affairs.

Information Commissioner Uday Mahurkar has instead asked the NMML's Central Public Information Officer to take up the matter with higher officials and secure the necessary permission before sharing the information with RTI activist Venkatesh Nayak.

The highest adjudicating authority on RTI matters, the CIC, did not specify if the information can be disclosed if there is an objection from higher officials.

RTI activist Venkatesh Nayak had sought the documents from NMML under the transparency law but it was denied to him without citing any exemption clauses in the RTI Act. — PTI