The disclosure of documents related to the visit of OgyenTrinleyDorje, one of the claimants to the title of 17thKarmapa, to Sikkim can adversly affect internal security and strategic interest of India, the CIC has ruled allowing Home Ministry to withhold the records.
OneKarmaTshutlimBhutiahad sought to know from the Home Ministry in 2013 whether therewas anyrequest from anywhere including Dorje seeking permission to allow him to visit Sikkim, action taken by the ministry and related documents.
The Ministry had refused to disclose the documents citing section 8(1)(a) of the RTI act which allows a public authority to withhold records, disclosure of which would prejudicially affect sovereignty and integrity of India, the security, strategic, scientific or economic interests of the State, relation with foreign State or lead to incitement of an offence.
Also Read
It reiterated its stand during the hearing before the Commission which agreed to the contention.
"The Commission observes that the information sought by the appellant would prejudicially affect the internal security and strategic interest of India. Therefore, the Commission holds that the information sought is exempted under Section 8(1)(a) of the RTI Act and hence cannot be provided," Information Commissioner Sudhir Bhargava held in his order.
Dorje had escaped Tibet in December 1999 and arrived in Dharmasala in January 2000.
Centre has restricted his movement and he is not allowed to visit Rumtek monastry in Sikkim. Reportedly, central security agencies are not convinced about the circumstances in which he managed to escape from Chinese rule.
