The Delhi High Court dismissed a petition seeking disclosure of Prime Minister Modi’s foreign visit records, rejecting a Central Information Commission order, on June 15, 2024.
The request, filed under the RTI Act, demanded details of every foreign trip undertaken by the Prime Ministers of India on Indian Air Force aircraft from April 1, 2013 to June 15, 2018, and the court had to weigh the public’s right to transparency against national security.
In its judgment, the bench held that the mere fact that public funds were spent on these visits does not, by itself, justify revealing information that could compromise security arrangements. It cited the 2011 CBSE v. Aditya Bandopadhyay case to balance transparency with confidentiality.
Earlier, the Central Information Commission had directed the release of the SFR‑II documents, but the Court found that the CIC erred by ordering disclosure after redacting the names of security personnel. The Court set aside the CIC order, underscoring that no larger public interest outweighed the security concerns.
The ruling clarifies that the request for disclosure remains denied, and the Court has effectively overruled the CIC’s directive. The decision will be reviewed by the Supreme Court if the petitioner chooses to appeal further.