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| Dogra case: CIC asks MEA to furnish documents in sealed cover | | |
NEW DELHI, JUN 27
The Central Information Commission (CIC) has directed the External Affairs Ministry to produce before it relevant files relating to the decision to recall controversial IFS officer Harish Kumar Dogra, India's High Commissioner to New Zealand, last year.
Dogra, a 1972-batch IFS officer had initially refused to return but was forced to get back in May last year on charges of misusing his position after Government withdrew his accreditation and suspended his diplomatic passport.
He had accused the then Foreign Secretary Shyam Saran of "impropriety" and taking action against him because of a personal grudge.
The CIC, which asked the Ministry to place the relevant files before it in a sealed cover before July 15, rejected the submission that the information relating to Dogra's recall cannot be disclosed as his matter was pending before the High Court.
"The respondents (MEA) said that the case of Dogra was before the High Court and therefore they could not disclose the information -- a submission which was not acceptable to the Commission," Information Commissioner O P Kejariwal said in the order.
The Commission on an application filed by Sanchit Sahijpal, a Gurgaon-based advocate, had asked the MEA to furnish the records of Dogra's recall by June 29.
The advocate had approached the MEA in September last year seeking details including correspondence and file notings leading to the recall of Dogra from New Zealand.
The Central Public Information Officer (CPIO) of MEA had rejected the plea in October on the ground that the matter involved relations with a foreign country and that the information was received in confidence from the foreign government.
Aggrieved by the denial of information, Sahijpal filed an appeal with the MEA's appellate authority. Failing to get a favourable response, he moved the Central Information Commission with his plea.
Dogra, during his stay in New Zealand for two years, allegedly had circulated in Wellington a letter he had written to Saran, in which he accused the then Foreign Secretary of committing "impropriety".
Appearance of the letter in local media in New Zealand had angered the External Affairs Ministry.
After a few days, Dogra dashed another letter to Saran, accusing him of violating the rules and his human rights and challenged him to prove charges against him.
The government had on April 18 stripped Dogra of accreditation and named K P Ernest as the new High Commissioner to New Zealand.
Dogra refused to obey and decided to go on leave till Saran retired in September last year.
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