Defence Ministry ordered to provide details regarding President’s Aarah trips within five days, following RTI request submitted by RaajjeTV
27 އޮކްޓޯބަރު 2026 | އަންގާރަ 09:04The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICOM) has ordered the Ministry of Defence to disclose details and expenditure related to the President’s trips to Aarah within five working days, following a complaint filed by RaajjeTV over the Ministry’s previous failure to provide a complete response to their Right to Information (RTI) request.
The Information Commissioner’s Office has ordered the Ministry of Defence to provide details regarding President Muizzu’s trips to Aarah within five days, following a Right to Information (RTI) request submitted by RaajjeTV. | raajje tv
The Information Commissioner’s Office has ordered the Ministry of Defence to provide details regarding President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu’s trips to Aarah within five days, following a Right to Information (RTI) request submitted by RaajjeTV.
RaajjeTV has requested information regarding the total number of trips the President has made to Aarah for vacations with his family so far this year, as well as the total expenditure incurred by the state budget for these trips. Furthermore, the station is seeking detailed information on whether any individuals other than the President, the First Lady, and their children were included in these trips to Aarah, including the specific number of individuals and the frequency of such occurrences.
Dissatisfied with the response provided by the Ministry of Defence on 9 July 2026 regarding a Right to Information (RTI) request submitted on 20 June 2026, RaajjeTV has filed a formal appeal with the Ministry's review committee seeking a review of the matter.
However, RaajjeTV filed a complaint with the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICOM) after the Ministry of Defence failed to provide comprehensive information in its response dated July 9, 2026. The broadcaster noted that the details provided did not constitute sufficiently clear or adequate answers to the questions posed.
RaajjeTV made the request on the grounds that the President himself has publicly discussed the frequency of his visits to Aarah during several press conferences. Furthermore, the station contends that information regarding the number of vacation trips taken by the President, the associated costs, and the number of individuals accompanying him should not be classified as secret, especially since the administration already discloses expenses and delegation details for the President’s official travels abroad and to the atolls.
After reviewing the complaints submitted regarding this matter and considering the arguments presented by both parties, Information Commissioner Abdul Azeez Jamal Abu Bakr reached a decision during Tuesday's hearing.
In his ruling, Azeez ordered the Ministry of Defence to provide RaajjeTV with the requested information—provided it is produced, held, or maintained by the Ministry—within five working days. The decision further stipulated that if the requested information does not exist, the Ministry must formally notify RaajjeTV of this fact within the same five-day period.
