R K Mathur asks PMO to disclose names of people accompanying PM on foreign trips

The names of delegation members accompanying Prime Minister Narendra Modi on his foreign visits should be disclosed, Chief Information Commissioner R K Mathur has directed the PMO

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The names of delegation members accompanying Prime Minister Narendra Modi on his foreign visits should be disclosed, Chief Information Commissioner R K Mathur has directed the PMO. Mathur rejected the objection by the PMO in disclosing the information on grounds of "national security". Deciding two separate cases, Mathur, however, exempted the PMO from disclosing the names of security personnel and people linked to the security details of the PM. "The commission is of the view that the name/list of non-government persons (having no connection with the security) who had accompanied the prime minister on his international visits...should be provided to the appellant," he said.

The cases came before the Central Information Commission — the final appellate authority in matters related to Right to Information — after applicants Neeraj Sharma and Ayub Ali did not receive a proper response to their applications seeking details of delegation members accompanying the prime minister on his foreign visits.

Sharma had sought the list of CEOs of private business, owners or partners, private business officials etc. who accompanied PM Modi on his international visits. Ali wanted to know the details of monthly expenses of Modi's residence and office among other things.

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