As reported at www.hindu.com on 9 April 2009


New Delhi (PTI): The Central Information Commission has refused to permit disclosure of the court of inquiry report in a case pertaining to the sexual harassment of a woman Army officer by her superior as it would compromise with the privacy of the victim.
The report, which found former Maj Gen A K Lal guilty of sexually harassing Captain Neha Rawat posted under his command in Ladakh, was demanded by his wife Akansha Lal under the RTI Act.
Upholding the reply given by Army in this regard, Information Commissioner Satyananda Mishra said, "the disclosure of this report and placing in public domain can seriously harm the reputation of other individuals including lady officers of Army...".
Much of this information is personal in nature having "little ostensible relationship" with any public interest or activity," Mr. Mishra said.
"The Right to Information Act exempts such information from disclosure except if such disclosure would serve a larger public interest," he said while hearing the plea of Ms Lal. The former Army Major General was sacked last year after an Army's General Court Martial found him guilty of molesting the woman officer. Ms. Lal was posted at 3 Infantry Division in Leh in 2007 when Capt. Rawat accused him of molesting her under the pretext of conducting meditation classes at his home.

Source: The Hindu News Update Service

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