1
Jurisprudence Jurisprudence II Ofcial Secrets Act, 1923
Rao Vishwaja 6th seester
2!12"#
2
$O%&'%&S I%&RO()$&IO%************************************************************************************************************ 2 GOVERNMENT PRIVELEGE IN EVIDENCE :IMMUNITY ******************************************************6 DUTY OF THE PUBLIC SERVANT ************************************************************************************** + OSA AND ARTICLE 19(1)(a) ********************************************************************************************1! OFFICIAL SECRETS ACT v RIGHT TO INFORMATION ACT *************************************************11 CONCLUSION ************************************************************************************************************** 1
3
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GOVERNMENT PRIVELEGE IN EVIDENCE :IMMUNITY
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DUTY OF THE PUBLIC SERVANT 1
Indian '-idence Act, 1"+2*
2
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3
Ofcial Secrets Act, 1923*
/01996 1 S$$ 2+*
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e+5-e#% 5e#%*% * 5%$*% f a2$h#$0 $ ha*,"e ff!a" %e!#e$%& a*, $he#% -h ha*,"e $ * 5#h3$e, a#ea% # 2$%,e $he+ a#e "a3"e f# 52*%h+e*$.I* a*0 5#!ee,*/% a/a*%$ a 5e#%* f# a* ffe*!e 2*,e# $h% A!$& $he fa!$ $ha$ he ha% 3ee* * !++2*!a$* -$h& # a$$e+5$e, $ !++2*!a$e -$h a f#e/* a/e*$& -he$he# -$h* # -$h2$ I*,a % #e"eva*$ a*, e*2/h $ *e!e%%$a$e 5#%e!2$*. <2#*a"%$% a"% have $ he"5 +e+3e#% f $he 5"!e f#!e% a3ve $he #a*4 f $he %23I*%5e!$# a*, +e+3e#% f $he A#+e, f#!e% -$h *ve%$/a$* #e/a#,*/ a* ffe*!e& 25 $ a*, *!"2,*/ #evea"*/ h% %2#!e% f *f#+a$* (If #e62#e,).U*,e# $he A!$& %ea#!h -a##a*$% +a0 3e %%2e, a$ a*0 $+e f $he +a/%$#a$e fee"% $ha$ 3a%e, * $he ev,e*!e * f#*$ f $he+ $he#e % e*2/h ,a*/e# $ $he %e!2#$0 f $he %$a$e. U**$e#e%$e, +e+3e#% f $he 523"! +a0 3e e!"2,e, f#+ !2#$ 5#!ee,*/% f $he 5#%e!2$*% fee"% $ha$ a*0 *f#+a$* -h!h % /*/ $ 3e 5a%%e, * ,2#*/ $he 5#!ee,*/% % %e*%$ve. The 5#v%* f Se!$* = % a"% +a,e a55"!a3"e $ %e!$* &8 a*, = f $he a!$. POER U*,e# Se!$* 1() f $he A!$ 5#%e!2$* !a* 3e "a2*!he, *"0 -$h $he %a*!$* f $he a55#5#a$e Gve#*+e*$ # %+e ff!e# a2$h#?e, 30 $. The %e!$* #ea,% a% f""-%: N C2#$ %ha"" $a4e !/*?a*!e f a*0 ffe*!e 2*,e# $h% A!$ 2*"e%% 25* !+5"a*$ +a,e 30 #,e# f& # 2*,e# a2$h#$0 f#+ $he a55#5#a$e Gve#*+e*$ # %+e ff!e# e+5-e#e, 30 $he a55#5#a$e Gve#*+e*$ * $h% 3eha"f. The#ef#e $he a55#5#a$e /ve#*+e*$ ha% $he 5-e# $ a55*$ a* ff!e# $ "a2*!h a 5#%e!2$* * %2!h +a$$e#%.
OSA AND ARTICLE 19(1)( A) The#e a#e $- %,e% f a !* -$h $he -a0 "a- affe!$% 5e5"e. h"e $@% ,ee+e, a* *%$#2+e*$ f# 5#$e!$*& $ !a* a"% 3e a* *%$#2+e*$ f ,%!#+*a$*. A#$!"e 19(1) (a) f $he C*%$$2$* /2a#a*$ee% $he R/h$ $ F#ee,+ f S5ee!h a*, E5#e%%* $ eve#0 !$?e*. The F#ee,+ f S5ee!h a*, E5#e%%* ,e% *!"2,e $he #/h$ $ a!62#e a*, ,%%e+*a$e *f#+a$*. The OSA 19'& $ % !"a+e,& v"a$e% a"" $he%e #/h$% 30 v#$2e f $he #e%$#!$*% $ 52$% * $he F#ee,+ f I*f#+a$*. The va/2e 5#v%*% f $he 6
$ode o $riinal 4rocedure, 1"9"*
11
OSA 19' a"% fa!"$a$e a$$e+5$% * $he 5a#$ f $he Gve#*+e*$ $ $h#ea$e* Me,a Pe#%**e". h"e ,%!2%%*/ $he !*f"!$ 3e$-ee* $he%e $- A!$%& $ -2", 3e #e+a#4a3"e $ 62$e $he <2,!a" ve#,!$ * $he fa+2% S$a$e f UP v Ra Na#a*:=
J I* a /ve#*+e*$ f #e%5*%3"$0 "4e 2#%& -he#e a"" $he a/e*$% f $he P23"! +2%$ 3e #e%5*%3"e f# $he# !*,2!$& $he#e !a* 3e 32$ fe- %e!#e$%. The 5e5"e f $h% !2*$#0 have a #/h$ $ 4*- eve#0 523"! a!$& eve#0$h*/ $ha$ % ,*e * a 523"! -a0& 30 $he# 523"! f2*!$*a#e%. The0 a#e e*$$"e, $ 4*- $he 5a#$!2"a#% f eve#0 523"! $#a*%a!$* * a"" $% 3ea#*/. The #/h$ $ 4*-& -h!h % ,e#ve, f#+ $he !*!e5$ f f#ee,+ f %5ee!h& $h2/h *$ a3%"2$e& % a fa!$#& -h!h %h2", +a4e *e -a#0& -he* %e!#e!0 % !"a+e, f# $#a*%a!$*%& -h!h !a*& a$ a*0 #a$e have * #e5e#!2%%*% * 523"! %e!2#$0.
OFFICIAL SECRETS ACT V RIGHT TO INFORMATION ACT The RTI@% #/h$ f $he !$?e* $ 4*- ve#"a5% -$h OSA@% #/h$ $ %e!#e!0. ha$ f""-% % a ,e$a"e, a!!2*$ f -ha$ 3$h $he a!$% %$a$e a% -e"" a% +0 #ea!$* $ $he %$2a$*. U*,e# $he R/h$ $ I*f#+a$* A!$ ('778): 1) A*0 !$?e* !a* #e62e%$ *f#+a$* f#+ a 523"! a2$h#$0 (Gve#*+e*$ 3,0 # *%$#2+e*$a"$0 f S$a$e) $ha$ % #e62#e, $ 3e #e5"e, e5e,$2%"0 -$h* $h#$0 ,a0%.
+
AIR 19+# "6#*
12
') The 523"! a2$h#$0 % a"% #e62#e, $ !+52$e#?e #e!#,% f# -,e ,%%e+*a$* a*, 5#a!$ve"0 523"%h !e#$a* !a$e/#e% f *f#+a$* % $ha$ !$?e*% *ee, +*+2+ #e%2#!e $ #e62e%$ f# *f#+a$* f#+a""0. ) The a!$ e+5-e#% a !$?e* $: K
A%4 a*0 62e%$*% f#+ $he Gve#*+e*$ # %ee4 a*0 *f#+a$*.
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Ta4e !5e% f a*0 /ve#*+e*$a" ,!2+e*$%.
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I*%5e!$ a*0 /ve#*+e*$a" ,!2+e*$%.
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I*%5e!$ a*0 Gve#*+e*$a" -#4%.
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Ta4e %a+5"e% f +a$e#a"% f a*0 Gve#*+e*$a" -#4.
The "a- !a+e f2""0 *$ f#!e * 1$h O!$3e# '778 3ef#e -h!h $ -a% #e%$#!$e, 30 $he Off!a" Se!#e$% A!$. H-eve#& *e %$"" !a**$ 3$a* *f#+a$* f $ 3#ea!he% $he e"e+e*$% f OSA #e"a$e, $ *a$*a" %e!2#$0. Cv" Se#v!e !*,2!$ #2"e% a"*/ -$h I*,a* Ev,e*!e A!$ +5%e f2#$he# #e%$#!$*% * ,%!"%e# f *f#+a$*. Mea**/ f Off!a" Se!#e$% A!$ (19') % a*0 a!$* -h!h *v"ve%: 1) He"5*/ a* e*e+0 %$a$e a/a*%$ I*,a ') A55#a!h& *%5e!$& # 5a%% ve# 5#h3$e, /ve#*+e*$ %$e # a#ea ) He"5*/ $he e*e+0 %$a$e * $he f#+ f !++2*!a$*/ a %$#e$!h& 5"a*& +,e"& !,e% # 5a%%-#, f a* ff!a" %e!#e$. ;) D%!"%2#e f a*0 *f#+a$* $ha$ % "4e"0 $ affe!$ $he %ve#e/*$0 # *$e/#$0& %e!2#$0 f I*,a a*, f#e*,"0 #e"a$*% -$h f#e/* %$a$e%. 8) I$ % !*%,e#e, a 52*%ha3"e !#+e 2*,e# $h% a!$ -h!h !a* "a*, a 5e#%* * a" f# $h#ee $ f2#$ee* 0ea#% -he$he# $he a!$* -a% *$e*$*a" # *$.
13
) A 2#*a"%$ !*v!$e, 2*,e# $h% a!$ % *$ $he *"0 5e#%* $ 3e 52*%he, $he -h"e !+5a*0 *!"2,*/ $he e,$#& 523"%he#& a*, 5#5#e$# have $ 3e "a3"e. RTI !a+e a% a 3#ea$h f f#e%h a# *$ *"0 $ 2#*a"%$% 32$ a"% $ !$?e*% f I*,a -h %$#2//"e, $ 3$a* *f#+a$* af$e# !*$*22% eff#$ a*, #ee!$* f#+ ff!a"%. O*e !a* a,va*$a/e f#+ $he "a- -h!h %$a$e% $ha$ $he a2$h#$0 *ee,% $ #e%5*, a!!2#a$e"0 -$h* 7 ,a0%. O*!e $he a2$he*$! *f#+a$* ,e"ve#e,& $ 52$% a"" $he %5e!2"a$*& #2+#% a*, a/*0 $ #e%$ a"*/ -$h 3#*/*/ $#a*%5a#e*!0 a*, a!!2*$a3"$0 f affa#%. If $he a55"!a*$ % $2#*e, ,-*& he%he !a* f2#$he# !+5"a* $ CIC a32$ 523"! *$e#e%$ *$ 3e*/ %e#ve,. Th% a"% f2"f""% $he 52#5%e f ,e+!#a$!a""0 e"e!$e, /ve#*+e*$ -he#e& !$?e*%@ 5#3"e+% a#e a,,#e%%e, a% -e"" a% $he f2*,a+e*$a" #/h$ $ f#ee %5ee!h a*, e5#e%%* % h*#e,. I fee" %2!h a #/h$ %h2", 3e e$e*,e, $ 5#va$e !+5a*e%& NGO%& e,2!a$*a" *%$$2$e% a*, #/a*?a$*% f a 523"! *a$2#e % $ha$ 5e5"e a#e *$ f#a+e, # +a*52"a$e,. A"*/ -$h a!$*/ a% a -a$!h,/ $ ,e+!#a!0& RTI a"% 5#v,e% h2/e a, $ -h%$"e 3"-e#%. N$ $ f#/e$ 2#*a"%$%& -h #e62#e *f#+a$* f 523"! +5#$a*!e a*, *ee, ff!a" ,!2+e*$% a% a %2#!e a*, 5#f $ a, $he# #e5#$%. H-eve# %2!h a 5#v"e/e !a* !a2%e a* ve#"a, f ,e+a*, * a,+*%$#a$*. Be%,e%& %+e *f#+a$* %h2", #e+a* 5#$e!$e, f#+ $he 523"! * $he +a$$e#% f *a$*a" *$e#e%$ %2!h a% a#+e, f#!e%& +"$a#0 *f#+a$*& ,efe*%e $#a*%a!$*% a*, e5e*,$2#e& $he CBI& NIG e$!. $h %2!h 5#v%*%& $he #e"eva*!e f OSA& a "e/a!0 f B#$%h #2"e * I*,a ha% *a$2#a""0 3e!+e "+$e,. The /ve#*+e*$ !a**$ ,e*0 $he f"- f *f#+a$* a*, h,e 3eh*, OSA a% $ 2%e, $ ea#"e# 30 !+5"e$e"0 %h2$$*/ ,-* $he 62e%$*% #a%e, 30 #,*a#0 5e5"e eve* -$h #e/a#,% $ ** !*f,e*$a" *f#+a$* %2!h a% h2+a* *$e#e%$. h"e 3$a**/ *f#+a$* *e *ee,% $ 3e 32*, -$h* $he "+$a$*% f $he "a$e# a"*/ -$h 3e*/ #e%5*%3"e a*, *$e""/e*$ e*2/h *$ $ +%2%e $he *f#+a$*. A 2#*a"%$ *ee,% $ 3e a /, 2,/e $ $he %$2a$* a*, 523"%h *"0 $h%e +a$e#a"% -h!h a#e *$ /*/ $ /e$ h+he# *$ "e/a" $#23"e # have !a%e f OSA f"e, a/a*%$ h+he#.
1
Be%,e%& $h% -2", *$ *"0 +a"/* $he 2#*a"%$@% #e52$a$* 32$ a"% $he *a$*%& f %e*%$ve *f#+a$* #e/a#,*/ $he# !2*$#e% % *v"ve,. H5e"e%% !++2*$e% have h2/e"0 3e*ef$e, f#+ $he RTI a!$ $ *$ *"0 /ve% $he+ a #/h$ $ f/h$ !##25$* f#+ 5e$$0 ff!a"% #e/a#,*/ %%2e% %2!h a 5e*%*& -a$e# %255"0 e$!. 32$ a"% $he fee"*/ f e+5-e#+e*$ a*, !*f,e*!e. F# 0ea#%& $he /ve#*+e*$ ha% #ee!$e, *f#+a$* * $he 5#e$e$ f OSA& eve* f $ ,e% *$ !a2%e a *a$*a" %e!2#$0 $h#ea$& -h!h -a% !+5"e$e"0 3?a##e. H-eve#& RTI ha% a"+%$ 52$ a* e*, $ $h% a% "*/ a% $he 523"! $a4e $ 25 a*, $he# 5"ea% !*$*2e $ 3e a*%-e#e,. Iftikhar Gilani case I* <2*e '77'& 2#*a"%$ If$4ha# G"a* -a%& a##e%$e, f# v"a$*/ $he OSA 19'. He -a% !ha#/e, 2*,e# $he OSA& -$h a !a%e 2*,e# $he O3%!e*$0 A!$ a,,e, $ $. The f#%$ +"$a#0 #e5#$ %2//e%$e, $ha$ $he *f#+a$* he -a% a!!2%e, f h",*/ -a% J%e!#e$J ,e%5$e 3e*/ 523"!"0 ava"a3"e. The %e!*, +"$a#0 *$e""/e*!e #e5#$ !*$#a,!$e, $h%& %$a$*/ $ha$ $he#e -a% * Jff!a" %e!#e$J. Eve* af$e# $h%& $he /ve#*+e*$ ,e*e, $he 5** f $he +"$a#0 a*, -a% * $he ve#/e f !ha""e*/*/ $ -he* $he !*$#a,!$*% -e#e e5%e, * $he 5#e%%. The +"$a#0 #e5#$e, $ha$& J$he *f#+a$* !*$a*e, * $he ,!2+e*$ % ea%"0 ava"a3"eJ a*, J$he ,!2+e*$% !a##e% * %e!2#$0 !"a%%fe, *f#+a$* a*, $he *f#+a$* %ee+% $ have 3ee* /a$he#e, f#+ 5e* %2#!e%J.
CONCLUSION The Off!a" Se!#e$% A!$& 19' % a %$a$2$e& -h!h -a% e*a!$e, -$h $he *3"e 52#5%e f 5#$e!$*/ $he Sve#e/*$0 a*, I*$e/#$0 f $he S$a$e. I$ % 32$ 2*f#$2*a$e $ha$ $he -,e ,%!#e$*a#0 5-e#% !*fe##e, 25* $he A,+*%$#a$ve A2$h#$e% * !*f,e*!e -$h a ve- $ fa!"$a$*/ $he $a%4 f P#$e!$* f Na$*a" Se!2#$0 -e#e 3e*/ ee#!%e, $ %h#2, $he 2*,e%#a3"e a!$v$e% f $he Gve#*+e*$ # R2"*/ Pa#$0 * 5-e# a*, $ #e%$#a* $he Me,a f#+ 5e#f#+*/ $% ,2$0.
1#
I$ % *,%52$a3"e $ha$ a %$a$2$e f $he *a$2#e f $he Off!a" Se!#e$% A!$& 19' % a* *,%5e*%a3"e #e62#e+e*$ f a Na$* * #,e# $ fa!"$a$e 5#$e!$* f +a$$e#% f Na$*a" Se!2#$0. I$ % h-eve# e62a""0 *,%52$a3"e $ha$ $he F2*,a+e*$a" R/h$% f C$?e*% f a De+!#a$! Re523"! !a**$ 3e !+5#%e, a*, $ha$ a %$a$2$e ,*/ % +2%$ *e!e%%a#"0 !*%$$2$e a +e#e #ea%*a3"e #e%$#!$* 4ee5*/ * +*, $he 2,!a" ,!$2+ $ha$ *$h*/ -h!h % a#3$#a#0 !a* 3e #ea%*a3"e. I$ +a0 $he#ef#e 3e %$a$e, $ha$ $he Off!a" Se!#e$% A!$& 19' % a S$a$2$e& -h!h f a+e*,e, $ *$#,2!e !"ea# /2,e"*e%& 5"!0 a*, "+$a$*% * e!e%%ve ,%!#e$*a#0 5-e#% !*fe##e,& -2", 3e a +2!h +#e effe!$ve a*, e*f#!ea3"e %$a$2$e. $h $he a,ve*$ f $he F#ee,+ f I*f#+a$* A!$& '77 $ +a0 3e 5#e%2+e, $ha$ $he Off!a" Se!#e$% A!$& 19' -"" 3e "+$e, * $% %!5e a*, a55"!a$* $ /#ea$e# e$e*$ 2*"e%% $he "5h"e% * $he F#ee,+ f I*f#+a$* A!$& '77 a#e 2%e, $ fa!"$a$e $he -,e a*, a+3/22% %!5e f $he OSA& 19'. Ye$& $ +a0 3e %$a$e, $ha$ $he %/*f!a*!e f $he FOI A!$& '77 "e% * $he fa!$ $ha$ $ % %/* f #e!/*$* f $he I+5#$a*!e f $h% R/h$ a*, -"" / a "*/ -a0 * fa!"$a$*/ $he $a%4 -h!h $he Me,a f a De+!#a$! !2*$#0 have 2*,e#$a4e* 25* $he+%e"ve%& -h!h % $ 5#v,e *f#+a$* $ a !2*$#0% !$?e*% #e%5*%3"0
BIBLIOGRAPHY
The *f#+a$* 5#e%e*$e, * $h% 5#e!$ ha% 3ee* $a4e* f#+ $he f""-*/ $e$2a" %2#!e%: 1. DD BASU AND A NANDI& ADMINISTRATIVE LA (199). .
'. H SAHARAY& ADMINISTRATION LA AND TRIBUNAL (19=).
. MP
16
;. NEELABH MISHRA& A Ba$$"e Ha"f * R/h$ $ I*f#+a$*& COMBAT LA 1& Fe3#2a#0 '77 8. Raeev Dhava*& O* $he La- f $he P#e%% * I*,a& '
1+
BIBLIOGRAPHY The *f#+a$* 5#e%e*$e, * $h% 5#e!$ ha% 3ee* $a4e* f#+ $he f""-*/ $e$2a" %2#!e%
