The Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) has declined to disclose information pertaining to the 2G spectrum case, on grounds of a potential breach of Parliamentary privilege.
Replying to an RTI query put forward by advocate Vivek Garg, the PMO said that since various Parliamentary Committees are already examining the 2G spectrum issue, the information cannot be shared in the public domain.
This issue has been caused by a note on the 2G case prepared by the Ministry of Finance. The note, written in March 2011 had said that P. Chidambaram, former Minister of Finance could have avoided the scam, if he had advocated auctioning the spectrum.
Responding to Garg?s query, the PMO?s central public information officer said, ?All papers and records on the issue have been requisitioned by these committees. Under Section 8 (1) (C) of the Right to Information Act, such information, the disclosure in terms of Rule 275 of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in Lok Sabha evidence given before a Parliamentary Committee shall not be published until it has been laid on the table in Parliament.?
“Therefore, papers constituting evidence given to a Parliamentary Committee whose report is yet to be tabled are exempt from the disclosure.?
