New Delhi: What is the expenditure of the President of India over her meals? The President's Secretariat was flummoxed to find such a query in a Right to Information application.
The applicant seeking to know detailed expenditure of the First citizen's kitchen expenses was curtly informed that such information is exempted from disclosure as it is personal. His query regarding travels undertaken by her was denied on security grounds.
But the enthusiastic applicant did not relent and filed a second appeal with the Central Information Commission.
Chief Information Commissioner Satyananda Mishra, who himself heard the case, accepted the argument of the President Secretariat's officials.
The officials told the CIC that they do not maintain records of expenditure on the President's meals as she herself incurs those charges which are personal information. A point agreed by Mishra, who allowed them to withhold the
information.
PTI
First Published: Thursday, January 13, 2011, 13:58