HC asks Air Force to consider if book by retd officer can be published on removal of classified content

The court noted that since the petitioner did not hear from the Indian Air Force, he filed an application under the Right to Information Act, in response to which he was informed by the Air Force that there are no guidelines issued by the headquarters for retired officers to write fiction books or publish poetry or articles for promoting literature art etc.

The further stand of the Air Force was that “clearance cannot be given as the disclosure on the content of the book is not conducive to the introspecting organisation,” the court noted.

Pursuant to this, the petitioner moved the HC seeking permission to publish his book.

Before the HC, the Indian Air Force submitted that the book was submitted to the Directorate of Intelligence which informed them that there are various counter-intelligence operations which have been described in the book. Some of the cases described in the book are also not yet been declassified by the Indian Air Force, they further said.

At this point, the petitioner’s counsel submitted that he is willing to amend or delete portions of the book if he is informed of the objectionable portions.

The HC thereafter asked officials of the Indian Air Force and the Directorate of Intelligence to hear the petitioner “in order to explore the possibility of whether if amendments or deletions are carried out, the book can be published”.

The court directed that a report be placed on record on this issue, further directing that the meeting between the petitioner and the officials shall be held within one month. The matter is next listed on October 20.