Delhi HC stays disclosure of security clearance to Global Vectra Helicorp Ltd
7 Apr, 2014Hearing a petition against the Central Information Commission (CIC) order dated November 20, 2013, Justice Manmohan of the Delhi High Court granted a stay till further orders. The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) contended that security inputs of government agencies cannot be disclosed as it would impede the process of ongoing probe by agencies like Enforcement Directorate.
On an appeal by Rakesh Soni, the CIC had directed the MHA to broadly provide the reason for withdrawal of the security clearance of Global Vectra Helicorp Ltd (GVHL), as available in the record of the public authority. The Non-Scheduled Operator Permit of GVHL, the largest private helicopter company of the country, was suspended by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation.
The Delhi High Court observed that it is prima facie of the view that exemption under Right to Information (RTI) Act 2005 is attracted to the present case. The Court issued notice to Rakesh Soni and others and seeking their responses. The next date of hearing in the case has been fixed for September 30.