Russia Crude Import Data Kept ‘Confidential’, CIC Upholds PPAC Stand
New Delhi: According to the Petroleum Planning and Analysis Cell (PPAC) of the Ministry of Petroleum, data on oil imports from Russia to India cannot be given as it is exempt under the RTI Act due to its “commercial and confidential” nature and the Central Information Commission also supports it, citing the country’s strategic and economic interests.
The case pertains to an RTI plea seeking details of crude oil imported from Russia to India between June 2022 and June 2025, including company-by-company split of firms like IOCL, BPCL, HPCL, ONGC Videsh, Reliance Industries and Nayara Energy.
The Central Public Information Officer (CPIO) denied the information and stated: “The information regarding country-wise and company-wise details of crude oil imports is commercial and confidential in nature and is exempt from disclosure under section 8(1) (d&e) of the RTI Act, 2005. However, the total quantity and value of crude oil imports (both current and historical) can be downloaded from the PPAC website.”
The First Appellate Authority upheld this answer.
At the recent hearing, the appellant argued that the information was not provided and said he wanted to understand how India operates in the industry.
In its interim decision, the Commission observed that disclosure of the requested data would “harm the State’s strategic and economic interests and would also affect relations with foreign states,” adding that the information was linked to geopolitical relations.
He said the exemption was valid under Sections 8(1)(a) and 8(1)(d) of the RTI Act and no further action was required.
The Commission also issued a show-cause notice to the concerned official of PPAC, operating under the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, asking why a penalty should not be imposed under Section 20(1) of the RTI Act for his absence from the hearing despite receiving advance notice.
The commission added that “there is no information regarding the Right to Information tab on the respondent’s website” and directed the authority to “ensure compliance with Section 4 of the RTI Act, 2005”.
Invoking its powers under Section 25(5) of the RTI Act, the Commission also recommended that the public authority improve its suo motu disclosures under Section 4(1)(b).
These include publishing details of the organization, its functions and tasks; powers and duties of officers and employees; categories of documents held; list of officers and employees; and the monthly remuneration received by each officer and employee, including the compensation system in accordance with the regulations.
