New Delhi, June 25 -- The Election Commission (EC) has refused to disclose under the RTI Act the dissent notes of its Commissioner Ashok Lavasa on decisions pertaining to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's speeches which were alleged to have violated model code, saying it was exempted information which may "endanger the life or physical safety" of an individual.

The EC was responding to Pune-based RTI activist Vihar Durve who had demanded Lavasa's dissent notes, pertaining to speeches given by Modi in rallies at Wardha on April 1, Latur on April 9, Patan and Barmer on April 21 and Varanasi on April 25.

The poll body cited Section 8(1)(g) of the RTI Act exempting the disclosure of information which would endanger the life or physical safety of...