Naga framework pact need not be disclosed: CIC

The Central Information Commission (CIC), in reply to a complaint filed by an RTI activist, upheld that the Centre cannot reveal details of the Naga Framework Agreement as the matter is "sensitive".

The ruling comes after RTI activist Venkatesh Nayak's plea to know details of the Framework Agreement yielded no results. After listening to the arguments of both the sides, the CIC ruled that it will uphold the Home ministry's decision to not disclose the contents of the Framework Agreement as it might "affect India's sovereign and integrity and the security and strategic interests of the State."

His RTI, filed on September 23, 2015, with the Prime Minister's Office, was transferred to the Ministry of Home Affairs, because the PMO said that "no such information" was available in its records. The application was sent to the North East Division of the Home ministry, who also said initially, that it did not hold a copy of the Framework Agreement.

In its reply, dated August 24, 2016, the Home Ministry said that, "the issue being highly sensitive and the final agreement is yet to be reached, a copy of the Framework Agreement cannot be provided in national security interest."

It was only after Nayak filed a complaint in the CIC, and subsequent to five hearings, that the ministry revealed that a copy of the Agreement was with the representative of the government of India for Naga Peace Talks, who is also the chief of the joint Intelligence Committee.

"During the last hearing conducted by the CIC earlier, this month, the CIC called for the text of the Naga Accord and other related documents for examination in camera. The Centre's representative for Naga Peace Talks provided an overview of the situation regarding the ongoing parleys during the open part of the hearing. The actual records were examined in camera after the CPIO and I were asked to exit the chamber, temporarily," Nayak said.

The CIC, however, directed for a partial disclosure of facts. Under this, the Centre revealed that the NSCN leaders paid for their own travel and stay during their visit to Delhi to sign the Framework Agreement in August, 2015.

The Centre also revealed that it paid Rs 13.07 lakh to the two consultants — SS Sachdeva and ML Saha — hired for the Peace Talks. The information about the remuneration paid to the Centre's representative, RN Ravi, was withheld on the grounds that he is not paid any allowance as an Interlocutor, as he is already on the government's payroll.

The Framework Agreement, signed in August, 2015 between NSCN leaders Thuingaleng Muivah and Isak Chisi Swu and Prime Minister Modi sought to "end India's first insurgency". The Agreement was meant to be a precursor to the Naga Accord, discussions for which have been going on between the Centre and the Naga leaders since 2015.