Saturday, May 15, 2010
Destruction of 1971 files criminal act, says CIC
The government should move proactively to declassify documents to avoid the kind of disaster -- the destruction of the 1971 war records in the Kolkata-based Eastern Army Command -- that TOI reported on Sunday, said chief information commissioner Wajahat Habibullah. Reacting to the TOI report that the entire records of the 1971 war with Eastern Army Command were destroyed, Habibullah said the "law is quite clear" that all
records "older than 20 years must be disclosed, except under specific circumstances". The destruction of records, unless it was permitted under law, was a criminal act, he pointed out. "There are rules allowing for destruction," but then details of those destructions must be available with the government, he said. Army sources said there were no written details specifying authorization for destroying the 1971 files.
records "older than 20 years must be disclosed, except under specific circumstances". The destruction of records, unless it was permitted under law, was a criminal act, he pointed out. "There are rules allowing for destruction," but then details of those destructions must be available with the government, he said. Army sources said there were no written details specifying authorization for destroying the 1971 files.
Labels: Archives, Exemption, Landmark Decision
Complete Article# posted by Vishal : 10:36 PM
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