National News
Reveal Cash-Strapped Air India’s Bills For PM’s Trips Abroad, Centre Told
The case pertains to Commodore Lokesh Batra (Retd) who had sought to know details of bills, invoices and other records related to abroad visits of Prime Minister between Financial Years 2013-14 and 2016-17.
The case pertains to Commodore Lokesh Batra (Retd) who had sought to know details of bills, invoices and other records related to abroad visits of Prime Minister between Financial Years 2013-14 and 2016-17.
During the hearing, Mr Batra said he was provided incomplete information by the ministry after which he approached the Commission which is the top appellate authority in matters pertaining to the Right to Information Act.
He said he wanted the general public to be informed at what stage or with which public authority these bills and invoices are pending for payment.
Air India is a cash-strapped airline that does not make money. Therefore, delay in settling these bills would also include sizable interest figure(s), which needs to be paid at the expense of tax payers money, Mr Batra said.
Mr Batra said these records cannot be brushed aside in the garb of national security — a clause which can be cited by a public authority to deny requested information — because these are in the nature of the liabilities of the consumer(s) to pay back for the services rendered by Air India.
After hearing both sides, Mr Mathur said payment of outstanding dues would ultimately require collating of these bills and invoices and rejected the argument of the MEA that collation would disproportionately divert its resources.
Further, whatever payment is to be made, it needs to be done after collecting the bills/invoices. In view of this, the Commission is of the opinion that the respondent (MEA) should provide to the appellant (Batra) travel bills relating to Air India from FYs. 2013-14 to 2016-17, he said.