Do Grant in Aid Colleges come under the purview of the RTI Act

[mswarup]

All I want to know is that whether Grant in Aid Colleges (Colleges where the management in Private but the Government gives Salary to the staff employed from its own coffers) come under the purview of the RTI Act?
I am confused because the Management and its Administration is in Private Hands and mostly such colleges are run by Societies.
Secondly do societies also come under the RTI Act?

[jps50]

Unless these institutions are substantially financed by govt, they are not covered under RTI. Even if U ascertain govt share etc, these institutions will plead that they are not under RTI and this point will take a year to be sorted out. It will vary from institutions to institutions. Better way is to seek the same info through SPIO of University which regulates these colleges under section 2 [f ] of RTI act.

U can get info of societies from the govt dept which controls them or with whom they are registered. If for example there is charitable trust, it will not be covered by RTI, but U can get the required info by filing appln with SPIO of office of concerned Charity Commissioner under section 2 [f] of RTI act. Similar is the case of societies. I do not know where such societies are regd in your state and hence find out at local level.

[mswarup]

I want to clarify 1 thing abt being substantially financed. What are the parameters for being substantially financed?? In these type of Grant in Aid Colleges the govt does not own any share per say, they only pay the salary of the staff. The building, land and all the assests of the colleges are owned by the society which controls the managing committee of the college.
The Supreme Court in its judgment in the Brahmo Samaj Case has also made it clear that there cannot be any interference in day to day administration of these colleges by the govt under the garb tht it pays the entire salary of the College.

[karira]

Manvendra,

Please read some of the threads in the following tag search:

RTI India - Threads Tagged with substantially financed

From what you have said, I do not think that these institutes are Public Authorites under the RTI At 2005.

However, having said that, the following decision of the MSIC may be of help to you:

Pvt medical, engg colleges under purview of RTI Act

[jps50]

Pl forget about grants and substantially financed etc. We are treating college as a private body [non-govt]. Still U can seek info through University or any other govt body which controls their activities, even the State Education Dept or AITEC etc. This is provided in section 2 [f ] of RTI Act.This section can be invoked for info of any private entity, where govt does not give even a rupee.