The Central Information Commission has directed the Defence Ministry to provide "appropriate response" to Lt Gen (retd) Tejinder Singh who took the RTI route to know about action taken against army officers allegedly involved in issuance of a defamatory press release against him.
Tejinder had filed a criminal defamation complaint against five persons, including the then army chief V K Singh, alleging he was defamed by the Army through its press release issued on March 5, 2012 which accused him of offering a bribe of Rs 14 crore to the then Army Chief to clear a deal of 600 trucks, a charge refuted by him.
He has also given a representation to Defence Minister A K Antony on May 29, 2012 and July 18, 2012 seeking disciplinary proceedings against army officers allegedly involved in the press release.
The representations were filed following an order of the Delhi High Court wherein it directed the disciplinary authority to take action as per law while observing that action is part and parcel of the duty of the authority in case facts so warrant.
These representations were forwarded by the Defence Minister to Army Chief Gen Bikram Singh.
Through his RTI application dated January 24, Tejinder wanted to know what action has been taken by Singh on the representations.
The army said "As directed by the High Curt of Delhi, facts have been verified and findings thereof have been communicated to the Ministry of Defence."
The CIC directed army to transfer the application to Defence Ministry within five days.
"... The CPIO, Ministry of Defence shall then furnish an appropriate reply to the appellant corresponding to his RTI application within three weeks of the receipt of the RTI application," the CIC said.
