Restrictions on Right to Information

Section 5 of Goa Right to Information Act, 1997 deals with restrictions on Right to Information. The Competent Authority may, for reasons recorded in writing, with-hold- (a) Information, the disclosure or contents of which will prejudicially affect the sovereignity and integrity of India or security of the State or Internationals relations or Public Order or administration of justice or Investi

The Competent Authority may, for reasons recorded in writing, with-hold- (a) Information, the disclosure or contents of which will prejudicially affect the sovereignity and integrity of India or security of the State or Internationals relations or Public Order or administration of justice or Investigation of an offence or which leads to incitement to an offence;

(b) Information relating to an individual or other information, the disclosure of which has no relationship to any activity of the Government or which will not subserve any public interest and would constitute a clear and unwarranted invasion of personal privacy; "[(bb) papers containing advice, opinion, recommendations or minutes submitted to the Governor for discharge of his constitutional functions and any information, disclosure of which, would prejudicially affect the conduct of the Centre-State relations, including information exchanged in confidence between the Centre and the Government or any of their authorities or agencies.];

(c) Trade and commercial secrets or any other information protected by Law;

(d) Information whose release would constitute a breach of Parliament of Legislative Assembly Privilege2[:] 3[Provided that the competent authority shall, before withholding information under this clause, refer the matter to the Legislature Secretariat for determination of the issue and act according to the advice tendered by that Secretariat:

Provided further that no appeal shall lie under section 6 against an order withholding supply of information under this clause;] (e) Information whose disclosure would endanger the life or physical safety of any person or identify the source of information or assistance given in confidence for law enforcement or security purposes or in public interest:

Provided that information which cannot be denied to the State Legislature shall not be denied to any person.

Section 5, Goa Right to Information Act, 1997 (Act 28 of 1997).