The Information Commissioners Office tells the High Court that revealing the number of Indian Soldiers deployed in the Maldives would affect the diplomatic relationship between the two countries and further impact the supply of staple foods being imported into the country.
The hearing at the High Court was held after local news outlet 'Dhiyares' filed an Information Request under the RTI Act seeking information on the number of Indian Soldiers here in the Maldives.
But since the Defense Ministry identified the information as something that might jeopardize national security, the Icom moved not to release the information.
The Dhiyares News appealed the decision at the High Court and a hearing on the case was held yesterday where the ICOM and the government were given the chance to justify the decision.
At the hearing, ICOM said that they held a secret meeting with the Defense Ministry and that the information which the news outlet is seeking is being kept confidential because of a legal contract.
ICOM lawyers argued that if releasing such information might impact the relationship between the two countries, the ICOM would not release such information.
The defense cited Article 29 of the Right to Information Act which states that the State Institute has the discretion of non-disclosure where the disclosure of a piece of information, containing details that would endanger national security as interpreted within the scope of the Constitution, would result in irrevocable damage.
The ICOM noted that India remains the country's biggest importer of basic goods such as staple food and medicine and if the number of Indian soldiers were to be revealed, it might impact the supply of such essential goods.
