Government wants crackdown on violation of Official Secrets Act

[Nicky G]

Government wants crackdown on violation of Official Secrets Act

The government wants a crackdown on violation of Official Secrets Act through leakage of sensitive information in the media but its own communication seeking to curb the practice has come out in public domain.

This would be comical if it were not serious.

Aaj Tak has accessed a series of government notes highlighting concerns over the leakage of information to the media expressed by top security bosses. In a letter to Cabinet Secretary Ajit Kumar Seth on October 13, 2013, National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval pointed out that a news channel had broadcast a report on India's nuclear submarine INS Arihant.

Doval expressed concern that the information televised by the media on Arihant submarine was classified and an offence under the Official Secrets Act (OSA). He went on to write that the OSA was being violated with impunity by the media and sought firm action as it undermined national security.

Simply beautiful. Nuke sub, who cares, broadcast away.

The NSA's note asserted that since the leak emanates from government establishments, he stressed on the need to reiterate government instructions and guildelines on the handling of classified information.

"It has been observed that in the last few years, it has become a regular practice, particularly in the media, to violate secrecy laws with impunity. Firm action need to be taken in such cases that undermine the national security of the country," the NSA's note read.

The cabinet secretariat drew attention of union home secretary Anil Goswami for compliance of the instruction by NSA. Aaj Tak has also obtained a copy of this letter, marked as "secret/immediate".

The third note in the series is an office memorandum issued on November 24, 2014, by joint secretary Bina Prasasd highlighting Ajit Doval's concerns about the violation of the Act.

"To prevent any leakage of information from government establishments, the provisions/instructions and guidelines of the Official Secrets Act and the manual of department of security instructions should be scrupulously followed by the ministry/department dealing with classified documents," said the memorandum.

Reiterate? How about catching and punishing the leaker? Is that too much to ask for? :shocked:

The three notes highlighting the information leakages have come into public domain. Despite the government's attempt to keep secrecy about key issues, the reports about various strategic projects, including sea trials of submarine INS Arihant, surfaced earlier this month.

One of the major impressions that the media carried about the government was that the flow of information was regulated. The government prefers to break the news about its key policy initiatives on the state broadcasters.

If this is truly how poorly info is regulated about such sensitive projects, GOD help us.

 

[nrj]

It has been observed that in the last few years, it has become a regular practice, particularly in the media, to violate secrecy laws with impunity. Firm action need to be taken in such cases that undermine the national security of the country," the NSA's note read.

Good luck with that

Political class and media is always in close handshake, and no one wants to be the bad guy.

 

[Free Karma]

Oh okay, so I posted this in the media watch thread, so I guess it is true:

I hope something can be done other than just "reiterate", the govt really needs to go after them. But sadly, there are many leaks within the govt itself, which more than anything else screws things up.

 

[sayareakd]

India today posted first pic of ATV.