Says such information comes under the ambit of classified documents New Delhi: The Centre has refused to disclose information about the health of prime ministers and presidents, including details of their medical expenses, under the Right to Information (RTI) Act, terming them classified documents. An RTI applicant had asked the prime minister's office (PMO) to furnish details of the health of all the prime ministers present and past and the expenditure incurred by different governments for their treatment. The application was forwarded to the secretary, department of health and family welfare. The reply from the director, emergency and medical relief (directorate general of health services), stated: "Such information cannot be provided as per the exemption clause provided in the RTI Act as the medical care scheme for prime ministers is a classified document." However, the response did not mention any specific clause or section of the Act under which the information was denied. The president's secretariat also rejected a similar RTI application seeking information about the health status of the president including details of medical expenditure. Faiz Ahmad Kidwai, central public information officer at the president's secretariat, said: "The desired information is personal in nature and disclosure is hereby rejected under Section 8(1)(J)." Section 8(1)(J) of RTI exempts disclosure of "information which has no relation with public activity or interest, or which would cause unwarranted invasion of privacy of the individual..." unless larger public interest justifies disclosure of such information. "Information about the health of prime ministers and presidents should come under RTI. After all, it is the people's money which is spent on their medical care. The public has every right to know how their money is being spent," the RTI applicant said.PTI
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