NEW DELHI, India—The Indian Central Information Commission (CIC) has justified the Indian Home Ministry’s decision not to disclose the full detail of rare Sikh manuscripts, precious artifacts, and other material looted by the Indian army during armed invasion into Sri Darbar Sahib in June-1984.
It may be recalled here that a Sikh named Gurwinder Singh Chadha had sought information about this looted material and its present condition from the Indian Home Ministry by moving a plea under the Right to Information Act (RTI) but the Indian Home Ministry had denied sharing full detail about these articles.
However, the Indian Home Ministry disclosed that around 4,000 articles including books, files, gold and silver ornaments, gems, currency, historic coins, etc. were seized from Sri Darbar Sahib. The MHA also stated that all these articles were returned to the Punjab government and Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee.
Citing the available official record, the MHA also said in this reply to RTI plea that 493 persons including militants and civilians lost life in this attack along with 83 military cops.
Later, Gurwinder Singh Chadha had challenged MHA’s decision by moving a plea before a senior official of MHA but he also denied sharing the information while citing sections 8, 1 (A) of the Right to Information Act.
