Principal of the Khalsa College Charitable Society, Amritsar and its immediate Governing Body called “Managing Committee” are public authority : PSIC

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Principal of the Khalsa College Charitable Society,Amritsar and its immediate Governing Body called “Managing Committee” are public authority : PSIC

The Orders of the PSIC are as below:

Coming to the specific issues on which information has been sought, the Principal is discharging the duties pertaining to Khalsa College. If he is deputed on tour and claims travelling allowance, it would be in the personal knowledge of the Principal. Record should also be available in the college. Similarly, if the Principal, in his capacity as Principal of Khalsa College, has been extended the facility of free residence or free electricity, this information cannot be withheld from the college. It would be part of the terms and conditions of appointment. The purpose and objective of the RTI Act is to bring transparency in the management of the affairs of the public bodies. The college,which is an aided institution cannot evade the transparency law. The principal was impleaded as a party in the present case and his submissions were taken note of, after affording him anopportunity to represent his stand. I have no hesitation to direct the respondent-Principal to provide the details of travelling allowance alongwith purpose of his sanctioned travel. A principal is a public servant and any official tour undertaken by him would be subject to public scrutiny. Likewise, if the facility of rent free accommodation has been given to the Principal, he shall be bound to furnish the details of his electricity bills etc. Lastly, if any amount has been spent on the renovation of residence of the principal by Khalsa College or the Khalsa College Managing Committee, that information will also befurnished to the complainant. Therefore, without going into the issue whether Khalsa College Charitable Society or its Governing Council are “Public Authorities” or not, suffice it to say that the Principal of the College and its immediate Governing Body called “Managing Committee” are public authorityand thus liable to give information for the reason that they receiving grant-in-aid from Government and thus covered u/s 2(h)(d)(ii) of the RTI Act,2005..