IPCL divestment: CIC asks for more information

The Central Information Commission (CIC) has directed the government to disclose to an information seeker details pertaining to the sale of petrochemicals major IPCL to Reliance Industries. Information Commissioner M M Ansari has asked Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilisers to furnish a copy of Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) as entered between the government and the successful bidders in the privatisation process of Indian Petrochemicals Corporation Ltd (IPCL).The decision comes in wake of a Right to Information application filed by Mumbai-based resident Ganshi Devraj Visaria, who had sought from Department of Chemicals and Petrochemicals information regarding IPCL's privatisation. The Commission will, however, decide on the question of allowing disclosure of the ministry's correspondence with other parties in a later hearing involving the Ministry of Disinvestment. Visaria in his application had also sought details on the government's disinvestment policy and the minutes relating to AS & FA Committee besides other details of IPCL sale. The Commission has asked Department of Chemicals and Petrochemicals to allow inspection of all relevant records and files by Visaria within 15 days.