EC withholds Gyanesh Kumar's travel details, says 'personal info'

Former Rajya Sabha member Saket Gokhale alleged the Election Commission (EC) refused to disclose details of CEC Gyanesh Kumar's official visits and expenditure.

The EC cited 'personal information' under Section 8(1)(j) of the RTI Act, 2005, to deny the request for details on domestic and foreign visits, dates, destinations, and costs.

Gokhale questioned how expenditure from public funds could be considered 'personal information' and accused the EC of lacking accountability and transparency.

RTI activist Anjali Bharadwaj criticised the EC's response, linking it to amendments made to the RTI Act through the Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) Act, which she claims expands the scope of exemption for personal information.

 

Former Rajya Sabha member Saket Gokhale on Friday alleged that the Election Commission refused to disclose details of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar's official visits and expenditure incurred on them from public funds, citing 'personal information' under the Right to Information Act.

High Court Advocate and Freedom Party Chairman MA Mujeeb when sought the legal position against refusal to disclose details of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar said that Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar  is a public servant his each action is accountable in the eyes of law.  

He has become an extra judicial authority himself for hijacking the democracy and he is very much liable to disclose RTI information. 

After the unfortunate removal of the name of the Chief Justice of India from selection of election commissioner and incorporating the name of Home Minister, chief election commissioner has become a despotic ruler over the Indian democracy and his is accountable Advocate Mujeeb added

"Indian Democracy has become symbolic, casual in its approach and as an orphan". RTI information is legally enforceable and essential to be provided he added

Only repeal of ECI Commission's law and restoration of earlier law is the essence of the State Mujeeb added.

There was no immediate reaction from the Election Commission.

RTI Request and EC's Response : Gokhale said he had sought the information through an RTI application filed on June 18, asking for details of all official visits undertaken by Kumar since he assumed charge as CEC on February 19, 2025, along with the expenditure incurred from public funds.

The information sought included the total number of domestic and foreign visits, visit-wise dates, destinations, purpose and mode of travel, details of officials accompanying the CEC at government expense and a break-up of expenditure on travel, accommodation, daily allowance, local transport and other expenses.

According to a copy of the RTI reply shared on X by Gokhale, the EC said in its July 31 response that, "The information sought under these items relates to personal information and therefore cannot be shared under Section 8(1)(j) of the RTI Act, 2005."

Questions of Transparency and Accountability : Questioning the decision, Gokhale said, "How can expenditure incurred on official visits from public funds be called 'personal information'?"

"Even the cost of PM's foreign travel has been disclosed in Parliament. So what makes Gyanesh Kumar so special," he asked.

Gokhale also questioned what the poll panel was seeking to conceal by refusing to disclose the expenditure.

"What sort of public money has been spent on Gyanesh Kumar's visits that ECI is scared to disclose it," he asked.

RTI activist Anjali Bharadwaj slammed the poll panel's response, and said, 'First privacy of bahu-beti was cited to deny CCTV footage of polling stations, now privacy of CEC Gyanesh Kumar is being cited to deny details of official visits undertaken by him and the public money spent!'

'This is exactly why the govt amended the RTI Act through the Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) Act- in the garb of protecting personal information, shield public servants from accountability,' she said.

'Section 8(1)(j) of the RTI Act was amended through DPDP to expand the scope of the exemption to prevent disclosure of ALL personal information. 

Earlier the RTI only allowed denial of such personal information which had no relationship to public activity or interest,' she said.

Allegations Against the Election Commission : Gokhale, meanwhile, alleged that the EC had become 'a black hole' since Kumar took charge as CEC and accused the poll panel of lacking accountability and transparency.

"... A constitutional body is being run as a personal fiefdom of Modi-Shah and Gyanesh Kumar," Gokhale alleged.

"Be it SIR or spending of public money -- ECI has ZERO accountability or transparency," he alleged.

Gokhale said the EC's response raised questions over expenditure incurred on the CEC's official travel.

"What exactly is ECI trying to hide about Gyanesh Kumar's trips? We need answers," he said.

According to the copy of the reply shared by Gokhale, the application had sought information related to completed official visits funded wholly or partly from public funds and did not seek any prospective itinerary, real-time movement details or security, escort or protocol arrangements.