SC rejects appeal of decision on disclosing expenses of President’s NY trip

Supreme Court has decided against accepting the appeal of High Court’s decision upholding the Information Commissioner’s Office’s (iCom) order to disclose the expenses of President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih’s visit to New York, United States in 2021, submitted by the Attorney General’s Office. (AG Office)

The case was appealed on July 2^nd.

AG Office’s Information Officer Fathimath Haleem told Sun on Monday that Supreme Court’s registrar decided against accepting the appeal. However, she noted the AG Office had the discretion to appeal the registrar’s decision to the judge’s bench.

President Solih undertook a visit to New York in 2021 to attend the 76th Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) where he delivered the national address. He was accompanied by a high-level delegation of the government and First Lady Fazna Ahmed.

As per the High Court ruling, the information was sought from the President’s Office by a journalist on September 27, 2021. The journalist, discontent with the information provided by the President’s Office regarding the query, citing it to be complete, submitted another letter to the President’s Office.

In response to the letter, the President’s Office said the receipts recording the expenses of the President’s visit included the personal information of a third party. The President’s Office, in line with this and other security concerns, informed their decision to make the receipts confidential.

When a complaint was filed with iCom over the decision – the commission ordered the office to disclose all other information after omitting information that amounts to personal information of a third party and pertains to security concerns.

State appealed the decision with High Court, which on May 25^th, upheld iCom’s decision.