Re: Disclosures of Annual Confidential Reports (ACR) comes under Official Secret Act | |
The current view of the Govt. on this issue is clarified in the DOPT OM Dt. 21/9/2007. It clarifies that the disclosure of ACR to anyother person would cause unwarrented invasion of privacy. Besides, it is a confidential document. It is covered under Official Secrets Act. Hence Sec 8(2) of the Act gives discretion to the public authority to disclose or not. IF THE PUBLIC INTEREST IN DISCLOSURE OUTWEIGHS THE PROTECTED PERSONAL INTEREST, then it can be disclosed. Decision to disclose is to be taken by the competent authority. Who will be competent authority will be decided by the Public Authority. |