Mercy petitions not exempted from RTI Act: CIC

New Delhi: The Central Information Commission (CIC) has asked Rashtrapati Bhavan to disclose details relating to mercy petitions filed before the President with the exception of the advice given by the Union home ministry. The information watchdog was of the opinion that the petitions did not attract any of the exemption clauses of the RTI Act and should be disclosed whenever soughtundertheAct.
The panel was hearing a petition of Mayilsamy K who had sought to know the details of processingthemercypleafiled by former PM Rajiv Gandhi’s assassins Santhan, Periarivalan and Muragan. PresidentPratibhaPatilhadrecently turned down their clemency petition but the order has been stayed by Madras HC.