Congress: Limit Official Secrets Act to internal security, defence matters

AS police investigation into the leak of confidential official documents from the Petroleum Ministry widens, the Congress Friday asked the government to ensure that the “big fish” don’t escape. It also suggested that the Official Secrets Act’s ambit should be limited to internal security and defence matters.

The second Administrative Reforms Commission, headed by senior Congress leader Veerappa Moily, had in 2006 recommended that the Official Secrets Act of 1923 be repealed. The panel wanted it to be replaced with adequate safeguards in the National Security Act. The Commission had argued that the archaic law was a major impediment in the way of administrative reforms.
The Congress said it agreed on repealing of the Official Secrets Act, although it was another matter that the party never implemented it despite being in power for 10 years. AICC spokesperson Ajoy Kumar pointed out that the Act should be diluted in view of the “changing times.”

“People are moving towards dilution and it should be limited to internal security and defence matters. Everything else should be out of the ambit of the Official Secrets Act,” he said. Referring to the second ARC recommendation, he said it should be removed, except for very few areas or ministries like Defence, Intelligence and Home. “It should go,” he added.

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As regarding the investigation, he said the Congress want to government to have a time bound investigation and let the people know about it.

“Only lower level officials have been arrested in the case. The government will be open to allegations if they’d don’t go to the bottom of it because there is no use in catching the small fish if the big fish have escaped… The Congress will support a clean and fair investigation,” he said.

He added that if “larger people” are involved, then the government should release “all names” and come clean.