PMO refuses to disclose Netaji files; CIC reserves order

PMO refuses to disclose Netaji files; CIC reserves order New Delhi: The Prime Minister's Office has told the Central Information Commission that it cannot declassify files related to freedom fighter Subhas Chandra Bose as it will adversely affect relations with foreign countries.During the hearing New Delhi: The Prime Minister's Office has told the Central Information Commission that it cannot declassify files related to freedom fighter Subhas Chandra Bose as it will adversely affect relations with foreign countries. RTI activist Subhash Agrawal, who had sought declassification of documents pertaining to Bose, made a strong plea before the Commission citing section 8 of the RTI Act which allows exempted records to be disclosed if public interest in disclosure outweighs the harm to the protected interests. "Notwithstanding anything in the Official Secrets Act, 1923 nor any of the exemptions permissible in accordance with sub-section, a public authority may allow access to information, if public interest in disclosure outweighs the harm to the protected interests," the Act says. "Subject to the provisions of clauses, and of sub-section, any information relating to any occurrence, event or matter which has taken place, occurred or happened twenty years before the date on which any request is made under secton 6 shall be provided to any person making a request under that section: Provided that where any question arises as to the date from which the said period of twenty years has to be computed, the decision of the Central Government shall be final, subject to the usual appeals provided for in this Act," the Act says.