Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah also had a media advisor at the national level. It has come to light of late that he was also paid Rs 1.5 lakh per month.
The Finance Department had also agreed to appoint Hemanth Attri, who is said to be a national independent journalist, as the media advisor to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah. Even though KV Prabhakar was already working as the media advisor to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, the fact that he had appointed a media advisor at the national level has been a matter of debate.
A copy of the Finance Department’s agreement to appoint Hemanth Attri as the media advisor has been made available. What is special is that Hemanth Attri was first agreed to be appointed as the Public Relations Officer. Later, the same order was withdrawn within a short period. A new notification was issued within a short period, changing it to Media Advisor.
The Finance Department (Ai 24/Vechha 12/2024) had agreed to appoint the services of Hemant Atri, who is said to be an independent journalist, as the Chief Minister’s Public Relations Officer/Media Coordinator on January 6, 2024. He was paid Rs. 1.00 lakh per month for one year as a consultancy fee.
The Finance Department had changed the Public Relations Media Coordinator post within 18 days of giving its consent. It changed the post of Media Advisor to Rs. 1.00 lakh in the consent given on January 6, while it said Rs. 1.5 lakh in the consent given on January 24. It has also been learnt that this was named as consultancy fee.
It has been learnt that the Chief Minister’s Office has no information about the advice given to the Chief Minister by Hemant Atri, who was appointed National Media Advisor and received the travel allowance.
The Media Advisor’s office has not yet disclosed the salary, travel details, and travel allowance details of KV Prabhakar, appointed as the Media Advisor, in the name of personal information.
After keeping the suggestions given by both the Chief Minister’s political secretaries secret as confidential documents, now Media Advisor KV Prabhakar has also kept his salary and travel allowances secret under the name of personal information.
Although KV Prabhakar had specifically requested information to provide all the letters, including notes, official reminders, and reminders issued since the date of his appointment, he had provided information that this information was not clear and specific.
He also informed me that suggestions are being given to the Chief Minister orally as and when necessary.
KV Prabhakar has also been given the status of a cabinet minister. It may be recalled that TV Sunandamma, Under-Secretary of the Personnel and Administrative Reforms Department, has issued an order stating that he will get all the facilities available to ministers.
There is a restriction on providing information related to personal information that is not related to any public activity or interest or which disclosure of information would be an unnecessary invasion of an individual’s privacy.
But the government is giving KV Prabhakar the status of a cabinet minister and all kinds of facilities including salary. Therefore, it is apparent from the Act that this is not personal information. Similarly, disclosing the details of his salary and places of travel does not unnecessarily invade his privacy. Since KV Prabhakar, the media advisor, is also participating in the tour undertaken by the Chief Minister, this is also not personal information. Rather, it is public information. However, KV Prabhakar’s failure to disclose the details of his salary and places of travel gave rise to many doubts.
Similarly, the following exemptions are allowed under 8(j) of the Right to Information Act.
The Act provides for exemption from disclosure of information, the disclosure of which would adversely affect the sovereignty and integrity of India, national security, strategy, scientific or economic interests, relations with foreign countries or would encourage an offence.
Similarly, the Act prohibits the disclosure of information expressly prohibited by any court or tribunal, the disclosure of which would be a contempt of court or the disclosure of which would prejudice the prerogatives of Parliament or a State Legislature.
Further, the Act does not provide for the disclosure of information which is a trade secret, trade secrets or intellectual property, the disclosure of which would jeopardise the competitive position of a third party unless the competent authority is satisfied that the greater public interest must disclose such information.
Similarly, information received by a person in a relationship of confidence, unless the competent authority is satisfied that disclosure of such information is necessary in the greater public interest, such information shall not be disclosed, including information received in confidence from a foreign government.
The Act provides that information that would endanger any person’s life or physical safety, or that would identify the source of information or assistance given confidentially for law enforcement or security purposes shall be exempted from disclosure.
Further, the Act provides that information which would prejudice the investigation process or the apprehension of criminals or the prosecution, records of discussions of the Council of Ministers, Secretaries and other officers, Cabinet papers, decisions of the Council of Ministers, the reasons for those decisions and the material on which decisions are based shall be made known to the public after the decision has been taken. The matter has been completed or concluded, provided that the matters specified in this section not to be disclosed shall not be disclosed.
It also provides that the Central Public Information Officer or, as the case may be, the State Public Information Officer or the Appellate Authority shall not be obliged to provide any information unless the Central Public Information Officer or, as the case may be, the State Public Information Officer or the Appellate Authority is satisfied that the disclosure of such information is justified in the best interest of the public.
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