Citing a provision of RTI Act that bars disclosure of third party information, the Prime Minister Office (PMO) has declined to share action taken on a letter written by Congress leader of Opposition in the State Assembly Ajay Singh to Prime Minister Narendra Modi alleging large scale corruption through e-tendering in Madhya Pradesh.
The Leader of Opposition in Madhya Pradesh had in July written the letter to PM Modi asking him to conduct an enquiry into the e-tendering scam of Madhya Pradesh either by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) or under the supervision of the Supreme Court. Anti-corruption activist and a Congress member Ajay Dubey had sought details of action taken report by the PMO on the Congress party leader's letter.
"It is stated that the information sought by you attracts the provisions of Section 11 of the RTI Act," it said in reply to the RTI query filed by the activist.
The PMO said that the response will be provided after due process as envisaged in the Section 11 of the Act is completed, it said.
The Section 11 mandates that if a Central Public Information Officer of a department concerned intends to disclose the information, to invite the third party to make a submission in writing or orally, regarding whether the information should be disclosed, and such submission of the third party shall be kept in view while taking a decision about disclosure of information.
The Congress leader had claimed that e-tendering scam is bigger than the 'Vyapam', referring to massive irregularities in state government jobs recruitment and selection in medical courses done by Madhya Pradesh Professional Examination Board or 'Vyapam' in Hindi.
