New Delhi: The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has refused to provide information related to the decision to abrogate Article 370. Lucknow-based RTI activist Dr Nutan Thakur had sought a copy of the official file of the MHA relating to the decision to abrogate Article 370, end the status of statehood of Jammu and Kashmir and form Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh.
However, the Central Public Information Officer (CPIO) of MHA refused to provide the information. It said that the information sought falls under the provisions of Section 8 (1) of the RTI Act, under which there is no obligation to provide this information to citizens.
Thakur has filed a First Appeal against this order, saying that the MHA has not clearly specified which sub-section of Section 8(1) is applicable in this case. Previously the Prime Minister's Office had also refused to provide this information "after due consideration."
The Centre removed Article 370, which gave special status to the state of Jammu & Kashmir, earlier in August. The government said that the move was aimed at integrating the state with the rest of India which could not happen because of Article 370.