Exam results confidential, SIC tells driver

[sidmis]

Exam results confidential, SIC tells driver
as reported by Jeeva,TNN, 8 Oct 2008

In an order that could trigger a controversy, the Tamil Nadu State
Information Commission has upheld the State Transport Corporation's
rejection of an RTI application which had sought the markslist of
candidates selected in an examination for drivers last year. The
Commission rejected the application filed by S S Gunasekaran from
Vellore, saying "the markslist is confidential and an exempted
document under the RTI Act."

Gunasekaran appeared for the bus drivers' examination conducted by
Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation (TNSTC) in May 2007 but did
not get the job. Stating that he had the required education
qualification and experience, he filed an application under the RTI
Act seeking the disclosure of the criteria on which the selection was
made, the list of selected candidates and the marks awarded to them,
reasons for his non-selection and the details of drivers who did not
join duty after selection.

The TNSTC refused to disclose this information . Pointing out that
selections were made based on the candidates' age, educational
qualification, driving experience and seniority of their registration
in employment exchanges, it said the marks awarded by panel experts
to each candidate under different parameters were confidential and
could not be disclosed considering the "public interest" involved.

Gunasekaran filed his first appeal with the appellate authority in
the transport corporation which also refused the furnish the
information .

He then filed his second appeal with the State Information Commission
in January 2008 stating that most of the public sector undertakings
were releasing the markslist of candidates and that such documents
were not exempted under the RTI Act.

In May this year, he filed another RTI application with the TNSTC
seeking the names of the members of the selection committee and got a
favourable reply. However, the corporation still refused to provide
him with the markslist.

Meanwhile, the Commission held an inquiry in August. Justifying the
TNSTC's refusal to disclose the markslist, the Commission said: "We
consider that the markslist is an exempted document under the RTI Act
and hence cannot order in favour of Gunasekaran. Had he not asked for
the names of the selection members, we would have ordered the
corporation to disclose the markslist. It is not fair to ask for the
names of the members on the one side and for the markslist on the
other. It cannot be accepted as per law.''

Gunasekaran has now decided to move the Madras high court next week
challenging the Commission's order.

Exam results confidential, SIC tells driver -Chennai-Cities-The Times of India