R K Mathur: Right to info- Delegates with Modi in foreign visits

New Delhi, Jan 28: Putting all objections aside, the Central Information Commissioner R K Mathur directed the Prime Minister's office to disclose the names of persons accompanying PM Narendra Modi during his foreign visits. Hearing the matter filed by two applicants Neeraj Sharma and Ayub Ali, Mathur said the Prime Minister's office cannot deny the information under Right to Information Act on grounds of "national security". However, Mathur maintained that the names of security personnel should not be made public.

"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," said Mathur.

The applicant had approached the Central Information Commission – the final appellate authority in matters related to Right to Information – after they did not receive the details of dignitaries accompanying PM Modi during international visits.