Defence ministry drops appeal on India aircraft pilot training disclosure
Recent reports indicate that the ministry has now dropped the case, allegedly following direct orders from the President.
Defence ministry has withdrawn an appeal in the High Court challenging the Information Commission (IMCOM)'s ruling on a request for information regarding Maldivian pilots trained to operate military vehicles donated by India.
The appeal was initially filed after journalist Nazim Hassan requested access to details under the Access to Information Act.
In response to his complaint, IMCOM ordered the ministry on August 24 to investigate the matter and provide the requested information.
However, recent reports indicate that the ministry has now dropped the case, allegedly following direct orders from the president.
The government has not issued any official comments on the matter so far.
While the ministry confirmed that Maldivian pilots are currently undergoing training, it withheld further details. Nazim Hassan’s request sought the following additional information:
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Whether the trained pilots have operated any of the military vehicles.
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Whether the pilots are currently employed by the Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF).
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If any trained pilot has resigned from MNDF, the date of their resignation.
The ministry had earlier declined to provide these details, citing Article 29 of the Access to Information Act, which protects confidential information deemed a threat to national security. However, IMCOM ruled that the requested information did not qualify for this exemption under the Act.
IMCOM highlighted that while Article 29 grants confidentiality to certain security-related information, the requested details concern administrative and operational matters. The article, the commission argued, does not cover:
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Administrative decisions, contracts, and tender operations.
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Matters related to employment, such as hiring or dismissal of personnel.
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Information that does not pose any credible threat to national security.
IMCOM concluded that the ministry’s refusal to release the requested data was not legally justified under the Act’s national security clause.
This decision comes in the backdrop of ongoing debates about the presence of foreign military personnel in the Maldives, particularly Indian troops. During the tenure of former President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, IMCOM had ruled to keep information regarding the number of Indian military personnel confidential.
However, the High Court later overturned this decision, instructing the government to disclose the information.
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