SUNDAY, MAY 10, 2015 (PAGE 16) DAILY EXCELSIOR, …

1
NEW DELHI, May 9: The Prime Minister's Office (PMO), while accepting the existence of 41 files related to Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose, including two declassified docu- ments, has refused to disclose the contents taking a position similar to that of the previous Congress-led UPA government. "Disclosure of documents contained in these files would prejudicially affect relations with foreign countries. As such, these files are exempted from disclosure under Section 8(1)(a) read with Section 8(2) of the Right to Information Act," the PMO said in reply to RTI activist Subhash Agrawal. The section 8(2) says, "Notwithstanding anything in the Official Secrets Act, 1923 nor any of the exemptions permissible in accordance with sub-section(1), a public authority may allow access to information, if public interest in disclosure outweighs the harm to the protected interests." A list of files unclassified/classified/ declassified with number and sub- ject matter relating to Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose is enclosed," the PMO said. The PMO gave a list of 41 files, of which two related to INA treasure and appointment of an inquiry commission to go into cir- cumstances of death, have been declassified and sent to the National Archives of India. The office, in its response, admitted that there are 10 files which are unclassified but still invoked exemption clause of section 8(1) to withhold them from disclosure. Four 'Top Secret' files which are held by the PMO include mis- cellaneous correspondence with and about widow and daughter of Netaji, transfer of his ashes to India and two files on the Justice Mukherjee Commis-sion of Inquiry looking into his death/dis- appearance, it said. There are 20 files classified as 'Secret' includ- ing one related to acquisition of Jankinath Bhavan - birth place of Netaji - by then Orissa govern- ment, five files from the late 1960s on the appointment of inquiry committee to go into the circumstances of "death" of Netaji, correspondence with and about his wife and daughter, another inquiry commission to look into treasure of INA, two ref- erences from Samar Guha, MP on his disappearance, Bharat Ratna award to Netaji and number of files on his death/disappearance among others. The rest of the files are cate- gorised as 'Classified' which include issues related to mortal remains kept in Rankoji temple in Japan while on the rest no particular subject is mentioned. Commenting on the develop- ment, RTI applicant Agrawal said, "Public interest definitely outweighs the protected as sev- eral commissions/committees have been formed by the Union government to probe mystery in death of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose." "The CPIO (Central Public Information Officer) did not even specify name of the coun- try with which relations are like- ly to be prejudicially affected," Mr Agrawal said. The RTI activist said the BJP-led government has refused to make public nearly 39 classi- fied files on the mysterious dis- appearance of Netaji and related matters, in sharp contrast to the demands of disclosure raised by its senior leaders when in Opposition.(UNI) SUNDAY, MAY 10, 2015 (PAGE 16) DAILY EXCELSIOR, JAMMU TERRITORIAL SALES MANAGER 1 (INSTITUTIONAL SALES) SALES EXECUTIVE 3 WALK IN INTERVIEW ISPAT INDIA, 7 C/C, Gandhi Nagar Jindal Steel & Power Ltd. 08283872177, 8713052222 REQUIRED URGENT REQUIRED Experienced Electrician Knows 3 Phase Work For Reputed Hotel Please Contact: 0191-2460282, 94191-00890 41 files related to Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose are with Govt

Transcript of SUNDAY, MAY 10, 2015 (PAGE 16) DAILY EXCELSIOR, …

NEW DELHI, May 9:

The Prime Minister's Office(PMO), while accepting theexistence of 41 files related toNetaji Subhash Chandra Bose,including two declassified docu-ments, has refused to disclosethe contents taking a positionsimilar to that of the previousCongress-led UPA government.

"Disclosure of documentscontained in these files wouldprejudicially affect relationswith foreign countries. As such,these files are exempted from

disclosure under Section 8(1)(a)read with Section 8(2) of theRight to Information Act," thePMO said in reply to RTIactivist Subhash Agrawal.

The section 8(2) says,"Notwithstanding anything in theOfficial Secrets Act, 1923 nor anyof the exemptions permissible inaccordance with sub-section(1), apublic authority may allow accessto information, if public interest indisclosure outweighs the harm tothe protected interests." A list offiles unclassified/classified/declassified with number and sub-

ject matter relating to NetajiSubhas Chandra Bose isenclosed," the PMO said.

The PMO gave a list of 41files, of which two related to INAtreasure and appointment of aninquiry commission to go into cir-cumstances of death, have beendeclassified and sent to theNational Archives of India. Theoffice, in its response, admittedthat there are 10 files which areunclassified but still invokedexemption clause of section 8(1)to withhold them from disclosure.

Four 'Top Secret' files whichare held by the PMO include mis-cellaneous correspondence withand about widow and daughter ofNetaji, transfer of his ashes toIndia and two files on the JusticeMukherjee Commis-sion ofInquiry looking into his death/dis-appearance, it said. There are 20files classified as 'Secret' includ-ing one related to acquisition ofJankinath Bhavan - birth place of

Netaji - by then Orissa govern-ment, five files from the late1960s on the appointment ofinquiry committee to go into thecircumstances of "death" ofNetaji, correspondence with andabout his wife and daughter,another inquiry commission tolook into treasure of INA, two ref-erences from Samar Guha, MP onhis disappearance, Bharat Ratnaaward to Netaji and number offiles on his death/disappearanceamong others.

The rest of the files are cate-gorised as 'Classified' whichinclude issues related to mortalremains kept in Rankoji templein Japan while on the rest noparticular subject is mentioned.Commenting on the develop-ment, RTI applicant Agrawal

said, "Public interest definitelyoutweighs the protected as sev-eral commissions/committeeshave been formed by the Uniongovernment to probe mystery indeath of Netaji Subhas ChandraBose."

"The CPIO (Central PublicInformation Officer) did noteven specify name of the coun-try with which relations are like-ly to be prejudicially affected,"Mr Agrawal said.

The RTI activist said theBJP-led government has refusedto make public nearly 39 classi-fied files on the mysterious dis-appearance of Netaji and relatedmatters, in sharp contrast to thedemands of disclosure raised byits senior leaders when inOpposition.(UNI)

SUNDAY, MAY 10, 2015 (PAGE 16) DAILY EXCELSIOR, JAMMU

TERRITORIAL SALES MANAGER 1(INSTITUTIONAL SALES)SALES EXECUTIVE 3

WALK IN INTERVIEWISPAT INDIA, 7 C/C, Gandhi Nagar

Jindal Steel & Power Ltd.08283872177, 8713052222

REQUIRED

URGENTREQUIRED Experienced Electrician Knows 3 Phase Work

For Reputed HotelPlease Contact:

0191-2460282, 94191-00890

41 files related to Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose are with Govt