Delhi High Court overturns order to disclose prime ministers' foreign travel details

The Delhi High Court annulled a previous order from the Central Information Commission that compelled the Indian Air Force to provide comprehensive details of foreign visits undertaken by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. The request, made by ex-naval officer and Right to Information activist Lokesh K Batra, covered trips from April 2013 to June 2018 and asked for specifics on aircraft, crew, entourage and security personnel.

While the commission had directed disclosure, the Air Force contested the order, labeling the requested data as extremely sensitive due to security concerns. The court, referencing the petitioner’s argument that the information pertained to public expenditure, concluded that spending records do not automatically outweigh the need to protect security arrangements. Consequently, the order to release the details was rescinded.