CIC takes note of wrong reporting of R S proceedings

New Delhi, Oct 18 (UNI) Wrong reporting of Parliamentary proceeding recently came to the notice of the Central Information Commission(CIC) while it was dealing with an RTI application.

The CIC has suggested that the matter could be taken up with the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting.

The application had been filed a few months back by Maj Gen V K Singh of Gurgaon before the CPIO (RTI Cell) Rajya Sabha, seeking information on the report of Group of Ministers on National Security constituted in the year 2000.

However, he was told by Mr Deepak Goyal, Director&CPIO Rajya Sabha Secretariat that as per records available in the Secretariat, no report of Group of Ministers (GOM) on National security has been laid on the Table of Rajya Sabha nor any information about the report available with the House.

Following this reply, the appellant again approached the House authorities furnishing them copy of a news report that indicated that the GOM Report on National Security was tabled in Parliament in May 2001. Another news report dated 25.8.2001 mentioned the Home Minister announcing that the report would be discussed in Parliament the following week.

In response, the Appellate Authority, the Rajya Sabha Secretariat reiterated that the report of Group of Ministers was not presented in Parliament on May, 3 2001 as mentioned in the news report referred to by Maj Gen Singh. The Authority sought to clarify that as per the 22nd Report of the Department related Parliamentary Standing Committee on Defence (14th Lok Sabha), presented to the Rajya Sabha on 20.7.07, the GoMs report (which stands classified as 'Secret') was submitted only to the Government in February 2001.

While disposing of the application of Maj Gen Singh, the CIC last week said, ''It does raise the question of irresponsible reporting of parliamentary proceedings which the Rajya Sabha Secretariat may wish to note and pursue with the Ministry of Information&Broadcasting.'' UNI NAZ AKJ BD1445