No special reason to decline RTI query: Salman Khurshid

Congress leader Salman Khurshid on Monday said there was no special reason for the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) to not disclose information to an RTI plea containing queries on aspects related to the controversy over restoration of former IPL chief Lalit Modi's passport.

"I don't understand what the cause is, what the reason is. This is now common knowledge, its being discussed throughout the country. Media is discussing it so what should be the reason for not disclosing it as part of the RTI, which is obviously a formal acceptance of the facts as they exist," Khurshid told ANI.

"My understanding of the RTI law is very clear. There is no special reason why this should not be disclosed. I would imagine if an appeal was filed, this information would have to be disclosed," he added.

Responding to an RTI plea containing seven questions, the MEA had said while a part of the queries did not come under the purview of the transparency law and regarding others it pleaded lack of information.

The questions included one about who took the decision on not appealing in the Supreme Court, the Delhi High Court's 2014 decision restoring Lalit Modi's passport in 2010.

"The office of External Affairs Minister (EAM) has informed that the questions in Serial 1 to 3 of your RTI do not seem to fall under the purview of the RTI act, 2005. As regards to queries serial no. 4 to 7, no information is available with EAM's office," the MEA said in its reply dated June 26 to the applicant from Haryana.

The MEA said the application has been "transferred" to its Consular, Passport and Visa Division, the Finance Ministry and the Home Ministry.