HC stays order on probe into 26/11 call records of slain cop

Mumbai, June 20

The Bombay High Court has stayed Chief Information Commissioner’s order directing the state to probe into records of telephonic conversation between the police control room and the wireless set belonging to slain IPS officer Ashok Kamte on November 26, 2008. 

"On due consideration of submissions advanced, in the light of provisions of Right to Information Act, we are of the view that contentions raised by the petitioners (government) as against the impugned order, require consideration," a bench of Justice VL Achliya and Justice Anoop Mohata said on Saturday.

"We are, therefore, of the view that a prima facie case has been made out to grant interim stay to the impugned order. We are inclined to grant ad-interim stay till final disposal of the matter," the Judges said in their order on June 17.

Kamte's wife Vinita had, under RTI, sought call logs of wireless conversations between the police control room and her husband Ashok Kamate's van in which he was killed along with Maharashtra ATS Chief Hemant Karkare and encounter specialist Vijay Salaskar.

She had claimed that she was refused.

When information was finally provided in November 2009, however, it had discrepancies, which prompted her to take her complain to the Chief Information Commissioner.

On July 9, 2014, Chief Information Commissioner directed the state government to conduct an enquiry through a sitting or retired judge.

 The state government challenged the order claiming that the Chief Information Commissioner was not authorised to pass such an order.

The case will now be heard on July 30. — PTI