Delhi High Court Upholds IAF Decision on Manmohan Singh Flight Records

Delhi High Court Protects Flight Records

The Delhi High Court has upheld the Indian Air Force’s choice to withhold records concerning foreign trips undertaken by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his predecessor, manmohan singh. Justice Amit Mahajan overturned a prior Central Information Commission directive that had instructed the force to disclose these specific flight documents.

Justice Mahajan noted that the Central Information Commission had made an error in its July 2020 order. Even with the removal of names and identifying details of security personnel, the court observed that eliminating those specifics would not entirely remove potential security vulnerabilities.

Security Concerns Outweigh Public Interest Arguments

During the legal proceedings, the petitioner's counsel argued that details regarding private individuals accompanying prime ministers at taxpayer expense should be accessible as a matter of significant public interest. However, the high court concluded that the expenditure of public funds does not automatically mandate the release of sensitive files that could compromise safety arrangements.

The court emphasized that once the competent authority—in this case, the IAF—determines that disclosure could jeopardize national security or the safety of the prime ministers, neither the information commission nor the courts can override that security assessment. The ruling highlighted that the Right to Information Act is not absolute and must be balanced against statutory exemptions protecting state security and personal physical safety under Sections 8(1)(a) and 8(1)(g).

Background of the RTI Request

The legal case originated from an RTI application filed on June 5, 2018, requesting details about prime ministers' foreign journeys on IAF aircraft from April 1, 2013, onward. While some information regarding PM Modi's travel was provided, the IAF stated that manmohan singh had not utilized IAF aircraft between April 1, 2013, and May 25, 2014.

The IAF refused to release Special Flight Returns Parts I and II, pointing out that the paperwork held interconnected details regarding aircrew, aircraft, passengers, and Special Protection Group personnel. Sharing these records, especially alongside publicly available information, could expose patterns in security deployment and entourage composition.

Following the rejection of an initial appeal, the petitioner approached the Central Information Commission, which initially ruled in favor of disclosure. The recent high court judgment successfully sets aside that commission order and disposes of all remaining applications.

Sources: The Times of India, Bar and Bench, ANI News.