Inordinate delay in giving info,PU gets CIC notice

The Central Information Commission has served a showcause notice to Panjab University and asked it to provide certified copies of the requested documents to an appellant.

The Central Information Commission (CIC) has served a showcause notice to Panjab University and asked it to provide certified copies of the requested documents to an appellant. Information commissioner M L Sharma directed the university public information officer (PIO) to explain within six weeks as to why penal action not be taken against him and compensation not be awarded to the appellant,Jaswant Singh Rana,who had filed an RTI application with the University Grants Commission (UGC) on April 19,2008.

Finance and Development Officer (FDO) Vikram Nayyar represented PU and Dr Rajinder K Singla,an RTI activist,argued on behalf of the appellant.

Rana had sought information regarding the appointment of two deputy registrars in Panjab University on the basis of an interview conducted on April 6,2008. He had sought information on the criteria for shortlisting candidates,selection proceedings,applications and service record of an internal candidate,if any.

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On July 18,2008,UGC supplied data under its ambit and transferred the application to PU for the remaining information.

On August 21,2008,Deputy Registrar (Establishment)-cum-APIO,allegedly supplied incomplete information and on September 18,Rana filed his first appeal before Vice-Chancellor R C Sobti,said Dr Singla. On October 25,the FDO demanded Rs 164 for the information despite the fact that no such charges can be claimed after the expiry of the prescribed period of 30 days. The complainant then filed a second appeal with the CIC on November 20,2008.

Dr Singla pleaded that though information was supplied by the university PIO after 150 days,the pages were without any stamp or signatures. On February 2 this year,Panjab University supplied certified copies of the pages,over 650 days after the application was filed. The matter will come up for hearing again on March 3.

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