Hyderabad: The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has refused to disclose file notings, correspondence and other records related to political clearance for chief minister A Revanth Reddy’s proposed US visit, citing RTI Act provisions protecting information that could affect India’s relations with foreign countries.
The ministry, however, confirmed that political clearance was granted for Revanth Reddy’s UK visit in Aug 2026. The ministry further cited Section 7(9), stating that undertaking such an exercise would result in inappropriate diversion of its resources.
In its reply to an RTI application, the MEA said political clearance requests were processed based on various factors, some of which could contain sensitive information and have a bearing on India’s diplomatic relations with the concerned country. It also said the information sought in the specific format was not maintained by the ministry. It did not clarify whether clearance for his proposed US visit was granted, denied or withheld. The RTI application, filed by activist Robin Zaccheus, sought certified copies of records, file notings, correspondence, criteria documents, statistical data and other material relating to the political clearance process for foreign visits by chief ministers. It specifically sought details of the Telangana gov’s applications for Revanth Reddy’s proposed UK and US visits in Aug as part of the Telangana Rising programme. Compiling it would require extensive collation of data on individual visits from state govts, ministries and departments, amounting to creation of new information beyond its obligations under the RTI Act.