NEW DELHI: The Central Information Commission (CIC) has directed the ministry of external affairs to make public the details of the 'private visit' undertaken by its minister S M Krishna to the United Kingdom in June this year.
Based on media reports that Krishna got his five-day visit in June extended to watch a Wimbeldon match, activist Subhash Agrawal had sought to know from the MEA the purpose of the trip and file notings made while planning it.
He also sought to know the daily programme schedule of his visit. Both queries were denied by the ministry, saying disclosure may have an impact on foreign relations.
After perusing the file related to the visit of the foreign minister, central information commissioner Shailesh Gandhi said some file notings specially the pages, where it was mentioned that extended period of visit was private for which the minister made payments from his pocket, can be disclosed.
"Page six of the noting may be relevant since it mentions that the foreign minister's visit for second and third July 2011 was private and payment for these days has been made by the minister," Gandhi said, while directing to disclose this information after severing the sensitive portions.
He accepted the ministry's plea that the record of discussions of the foreign minister's with various people of different countries could not be disclosed. Gandhi, however, directed the ministry to disclose the programme schedule.
Based on media reports that Krishna got his five-day visit in June extended to watch a Wimbeldon match, activist Subhash Agrawal had sought to know from the MEA the purpose of the trip and file notings made while planning it.
He also sought to know the daily programme schedule of his visit. Both queries were denied by the ministry, saying disclosure may have an impact on foreign relations.
After perusing the file related to the visit of the foreign minister, central information commissioner Shailesh Gandhi said some file notings specially the pages, where it was mentioned that extended period of visit was private for which the minister made payments from his pocket, can be disclosed.
"Page six of the noting may be relevant since it mentions that the foreign minister's visit for second and third July 2011 was private and payment for these days has been made by the minister," Gandhi said, while directing to disclose this information after severing the sensitive portions.
He accepted the ministry's plea that the record of discussions of the foreign minister's with various people of different countries could not be disclosed. Gandhi, however, directed the ministry to disclose the programme schedule.
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