Delhi HC bars IAF sharing PM Modi, Manmohan Singh trips
The Delhi High Court has stopped the Indian Air Force (IAF) from sharing details about Prime Minister Modi's and former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's foreign trips.
The court said even redacted versions of these records could not necessarily eliminate potential security risks to the Prime Minister, so it is better to keep them under wraps.
Court favored VVIP safety over disclosure
This all started when a retired Navy officer filed an RTI in 2018 asking for information on prime ministers' Air Force travels since 2013.
While some basic details were given, the IAF refused to share full flight records, saying it could threaten national security.
The court agreed, adding that protecting VVIP safety outweighs public curiosity, even when public money is involved.
As the judge put it, "The mere fact that public funds have been expended on the foreign visits of the Hon'ble Prime Minister does not, by itself, justify disclosure of information which may compromise the security arrangements put in place for such visits."