UGC told to reply to 10-month-old RTI application

[ganpat1956]

New Delhi, Apr.19 : The Central Information Commission (CIC) has asked the University Grants Commission (UGC), the apex body to regulate higher education in the country, to reply to an RTI application, noting that the matter has been pending for more than 10 months.

Expressing amazement over the delay in replying to the application, Information Commissioner O.P.Kejriwal said:"How long can this subject take. It is more than 10 months that the subject has been under consideration."

The Commission's observation came during the hearing of an RTI appeal made by Nagpur resident Atul Jain.

Jain, through his application in May, last year, has sought from the HRD Ministry certified copies of file noting pertaining to his UGC-NET examination, 2004, and wanted his certificate.

"The Commission makes a strong recommendation to the UGC to have the matter finalized as soon as possible and also to send a letter to the full satisfaction of the appellant," Kejariwal said in a recent order.

Earlier, an Under Secretary, representing HRD Ministry produced a letter before the Commission from the UGC, stating that they have sent a letter to the information seeker in June 2006.

The official also said that the UGC is considering the matter and would seek a legal opinion on it.

The appellant had filed a complaint with the Commission in October, last year after the public information officer of the Ministry had returned his RTI application in May last year advising him to approach the UGC directly.

In his appeal, Jain contended that although the matter was related to the UGC, the file was still with the HRD Ministry.

UGC told to reply to 10-month-old RTI application

[revribhav]

Strange are the ways adopted by the govt. officials/public servants.One of my RTI application was pending since last 10 months without reply.I filed appeal to AA and received reply that they CPIO have already replied.They have indeed prepared a back dated reply.