Status of minority Hindus living in Pakistan and Bangladesh under RTI

Background

The appellant wanted to know whether the Indian government was aware of pitiable situation of minority Hindus living in Pakistan and Bangladesh and what steps were taken to safeguard and protect rights of Hindu nationals of Pakistan and Bangladesh. He also sought the copies of documents, reports and correspondence with Pakistan and Bangladesh on the subject. The Public Information Officer (PIO) informed the appellant that the Government has seen reports of unfair treatment to members of minority groups, including Hindus, residing in Pakistan but it is the responsibility of the Government of Pakistan to discharge its obligations towards its citizens, including minorities. The PIO denied the copies of the documents, reports and correspondence with Pakistan and Bangladesh on the subject under section 8(1)(a) Notwithstanding anything contained in this Act, there shall be no obligation to give any citizen, information, disclosure of which would prejudicially affect the 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; Notwithstanding anything contained in this Act, there shall be no obligation to give any citizen, information, disclosure of which would prejudicially affect the 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; of the RTI Act stating that these were sensitive documents, concerned with the citizens of another country and relating to internal affairs of these countries, disclosure of which could prejudicially affect India’s relations with a foreign state.

View of CIC

The Central Information Commission (CIC) agreed with the argument of the PIO and rejected the appeal observing that this may be covered under Section 8(1)(a) Notwithstanding anything contained in this Act, there shall be no obligation to give any citizen, information, disclosure of which would prejudicially affect the 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; Notwithstanding anything contained in this Act, there shall be no obligation to give any citizen, information, disclosure of which would prejudicially affect the 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; of the RTI Act. The appellant did not press for the issue after hearing the arguments of the PIO.   

Citation: Mr. Subhash Chandra Agrawal v. Ministry of External Affairs in Decision No. CIC/SG/A/2012/000152/18352