PMO refuses to share info on Shunglu panel report

 The Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) has refused to share details of action it might have taken on the findings of Shunglu panel that had exposed irregularities in 2010 Commonwealth Games projects.

Turning down an RTI application, the PMO stated that it was not in a position to go public for a group of ministers (GoM) was still looking into the Shunglu committee report to suggest accountability holding measures. 

Though it was touted as one of the biggest corruption case of the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government, the CBI, too, has not been able to corroborate large picture of CWG project related irregularities highlighted by the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG). The CBI, however, is still probing some cases, including against Congress MP Suresh Kalmadi. 

A query of the RTI application was that whether the government was considering to make CAG a three-member body as suggested  by the Shunglu panel.  The PMO, however, responded that "information regarding future course of action" cannot be sought under the RTI.

"The letter dated March 29, 2011, from V K Shunglu, former CAG and chairman of high level committee, has been referred to a group of ministers to look into issues relating to the reports of the high level committee and consider the views expressed on the findings and recommendations by the concerned ministries or departments," the PMO said in reply to an RTI query filed by a news agency.

The PMO took refuge in an exemption clause of the Act to hold back information sought in the RTI application. Arguing that GoM is an extension of Cabinet, Section 8(1)(i) of the Right to Information Act bars from sharing information linked to decision of council of ministers.

Defence Minister A K Antony is heading the GoM constituted to look into the panel report for suggesting action.