India-Russia correspondence on Netaji disappearance won't be released

[Anuj Dhar]

It is curtains for the RTI case involving the correspondence between India and Russia over Subhas Bose's disappearance. The Ministry of External Affairs has informed Central Information Commission that the Russians are not for disclosure. The MEA had taken up the matter with the Russians for the second time following a CIC directive in August.

Writing to Information Commissioner Dr OP Kejariwal, AK Nag, Central Public Information Officer (MEA), has stated that the Indian embassy in Moscow again "approached the Government of Russian Federation to get their consent to the disclosure of documents". "But the Government of Russian Federation reiterated that documents were submitted exclusively for official use by the Government of India."

Curiously, the focal of the request - correspondence between India & USSR/Russia - appears to have been put aside.

Kajeriwal had noted in August that the Central Information Commission was "all for disclosure of this material" and directed the MEA "to seek a formal clearance from the Russian Authorities in the matter".

:::MISSION NETAJI::: India-Russia correspondence on Netaji disappearance won't be released

[karira]

Does this mean that the Russian Government is being treated as a "third party" under the RTI Act ?
If yes, I have two doubts:
1. Can a Foreign Government or a Foreigner be a "third party" under the RTI Act ?
2. Did the PIO follow the due process in sending a notice to the third party and also
applied his mind before coming to this decision of non-disclosure ?

If no, then what is the basis of this decision ?

[Anuj Dhar]

No. It so happened that the GOI refused to release the correspondence as Russia would not like it. As such the CIC asked them to check up with the Russians. MEA did that through our embassy and the answer is that they are not in favour.

I dont think so the CIC can anything now. Matter closed. People are more keen to speculate which will be next Monica Bedi flick than whatever happened to Bose. If only Bose and others had known this, they might have not risked their neck. Mind you, this was as true in 1950 -- then people were more interested in Raj Kapoor or some actress of that time. I have seen old newspaper -- not one of them in 1950s or 1960s actually pushed for the case. there were always a few individuals making noises.