The Central Information Commission (CIC) says revealing information about criminals for whom Red Corner notices have been issued will improve the country’s image.
The Central Information Commission (CIC) says revealing information about criminals for whom Red Corner notices have been issued will improve the country’s image.
Germany was keen on prosecuting Amity International directors Ashok Kumar and Arun Kumar Chauhan, who are wanted in that country in connection with a fraud involving millions of dollars, and had sought India’s help in serving legal documents to them or in their extradition, as the countries have an extradition treaty.
The ministry of external affairs (MEA), however, refused to part with information about the Chauhan brothers, saying such a disclosure would adversely affect relations between India and Germany.
Ashwini Kumar Shrivastava invoked the RTI Act seeking information from MEA about the Red Corner notice against the Chauhans and status of the case against the brothers with a “chequered history”.
He said the information sought by him couldn’t be exempted under the safeguard clause that prohibits revelation of inputs that may endanger national security or adversely affect the country’s relationship with other nations.
CIC rejected MEA’s contention saying the information sought about the brothers was already in public domain. “In fact, disclosure of such information will boost integrity of the Indian judicial system internationally and lead to transparency about such matters of international consequence,’’ it said.
The Delhi high court has restrained the Chauhans from disposing of or encumbering their specific properties. Their bank accounts have been attached after various international companies filed “fraud” cases against them.
“It is in the larger public interest that such information should be made available to the public to promote the faith of the people of India and the world in the Indian judicial system,’’ the CIC said.
“The objective of RTI Act is to promote transparency and accountability in the functioning of public authorities and remove chances of corruption at any level of the government,” it said.
“If transparency has to be achieved then information regarding decisions taken, based on rules and regulations, should be freely available and accessible to those who will be affected by those decisions and in this case the public,’’ it added.
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